Top News:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Yanks tell Cano to pull out of winter ball … ORLANDO — The New York Yankees told second baseman Robinson Cano to stop playing winter ball, his Dominican Republic team told ESPNdeportes.com on Thursday. — “The Yankees sent a letter to Cano to stop playing, but they didn't offer …
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Report: Cano pulled from winter ball — Infielder says Yanks don't want him to aggravate calf injury — NEW YORK — Robinson Cano may need to wait for Spring Training to take his next swings against live game competition. — The Yankees instructed the 25-year-old second baseman to pull …
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Erstad signs one-year deal with Astros — Veteran to serve as lefty bat and backup outfielder off bench — HOUSTON — Outfielder Darin Erstad has reached an agreement with the Astros on a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives, general manager Ed Wade confirmed on Thursday.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Astros, Erstad reach 1-year agreement — HOUSTON (AP) - Free agent outfielder Darin Erstad signed a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives with the Houston Astros on Thursday. — The 33-year-old Erstad, a two-time All Star in 11 seasons with the Angels, hit .248 with four home runs …
Discussion:
The MLB Source
Chris Vivlamore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Beauchamp, ex-Braves player and coach, dies — Former Braves player and coach Jim Beauchamp died Tuesday — Christmas Day — after a long battle with acute myelogenous leukemia. He was 68. — Beauchamp was the bench coach for the Braves from 1991 to '98, a part of the team's World Series championship in 1995.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Former Atlanta coach Jim Beauchamp dies at 68 — ATLANTA (AP) — Former major league player and longtime Atlanta Braves coach Jim Beauchamp has died of leukemia. He was 68. — “As a son, my fondest memory of him was how much he told us he loved us,” Kash Beauchamp told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Teams pitch Santana deals but nothing connecting … The Twins continue to stay in contact with the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Mariners about a Johan Santana deal. But those talks have moved so slowly it's now possible a Santana trade may not get done “for several weeks,” according to one source with knowledge of the discussions.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Eephus Pitch, Scott Proctor's Arm, Over the Monster, FanHouse, Ya Gotta Believe, My Pinstripes and Yanksfan vs Soxfan
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yanks should say no thanks for Santana
Yanks should say no thanks for Santana
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, River Ave. Blues, Baseball Musings, NJ.com, Pinstripe Alley and Twins Insider
Associated Press:
Congressman Shays blasts Selig on steroids policy — WASHINGTON — Rep. Christopher Shays, a member of a congressional panel probing the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, said Thursday there is little to be gained by calling players to testify at hearings scheduled for next month.
Christina Kahrl / Baseball Prospectus:
TA: Breakout — Making Waves in the Wests — American League — National League — Signed RHP Carlos Silva to a four-year, $48 million contract. — The challenge for the Mariners this winter was to find that starting pitcher who could help pick up King Felix and provide …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Prior to pitch for the Padres — Local product agrees to incentive-laden, one-year deal — Mark Prior was one of the National League's premier pitchers in 2003. — In just his second major league season, Prior posted an 18-6 record and a 2.43 earned-run average for the Chicago Cubs …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Siberian Baseball, Cardinals Diaspora, Blogging Baseball, The Big Lead, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB.com
Dayn Perry / Fox Sports:
Webb-Haren form most formidable duo — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the new book, “Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones” (Available now at Amazon.com). — The recent trade of Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks has revived …
Associated Press:
Ex-Oriole Hawkins agrees to terms with Yankees — Reliever signs one-year deal worth $3.75 million — NEW YORK - The New York Yankees finalized a $3.75 million, one-year contract with LaTroy Hawkins on Thursday, strengthening their weak middle relief with the veteran right-hander.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Don Burke / New Jersey Online:
No news is good news for Mets' pitching prospect — Despite popping up in trade rumors, Parlin's Mulvey is still a keeper — PHILADELPHIA — There was a stretch this off-season where nearly every day, Kevin Mulvey got a news update from one of his best friends. — “Hey, did you hear you got traded?'”
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mattingly's place on ballot deserved — Yankees legend enters eighth year of Hall of Fame candidacy — NEW YORK — For 14 seasons, Don Mattingly was the face of the New York Yankees. Unfortunately for the first baseman, those years didn't result in any World Series championships, leaving the captain with a big hole on his resume.
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Report: Clemens' lawyer to put P.I.'s on case — Roger Clemens' lawyer has hired private investigators in an attempt to challenge the credibility of Brian McNamee, who has claimed to have injected Clemens with steroids, a lawyer familiar with the matter told The New York Times.
RELATED:
Dan McLaughlin / Hardball Times:
The path to Cooperstown: Tim Raines and the Tablesetters — In my third annual THT column on position players on the Hall of Fame ballot, I'd like to focus on one of this year's leading Hall of Fame candidates, Tim Raines, and the players that are in some sense comparable to Raines: the tablesetters.
RELATED: