Top News:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Another rebuilding move by A's Beane — No one is safe now that the A's rebuilding efforts are in full swing. On Thursday, general manager Billy Beane unexpectedly traded one of the club's most popular and productive players, sending outfielder Nick Swisher to the White Sox for three standout prospects.
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David Lennon / Newsday:
A healthy Delgado feels good about Mets outlook — Now that the splint is off his left hand and 2007 is nothing more than a bad memory, Carlos Delgado sounds anxious to begin the upcoming season - regardless of whether Johan Santana is on the Mets. Delgado spoke to reporters yesterday …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Delgado Prepares to Hit; Minaya Is Going to Israel — Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado said his rehabilitation from a fractured left hand was on schedule and that he expected to be at full strength when he reports to spring training in six weeks. As Delgado prepared to begin the next phase …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Carlos Delgado: We can win as is — The Mets have been criticized in some circles for having a tepid season around the hot stove, but count Carlos Delgado among those who believe the team can win as is. — Still, Delgado said, he'd welcome Johan Santana, if the Mets can pull off a trade for the Minnesota ace.
Northwest Herald:
Pietruszkiewicz: Williams commits No. 1 sin — Finally, after being jilted so many times this off-season, after watching so many primary targets slip out of focus, after hearing the complaints from a fan base begging for something, anything to be added instead of this constant stream of subtractions …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
What's Next For Oakland? — What's Billy Beane's next move? He's already traded his team's best pitcher and one of his better hitters. Let's start with a couple of additional moves brought up by Susan Slusser. — Trade Eric Chavez. Chavez expects to go, and he was refreshingly candid in his comments.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
NY Daily News:
60 MINUTES OF B-12 — Roger Clemens admits on “60 Minutes” that he received injections of lidocaine and “B-12” - clubhouse code for steroids, according to Jose Canseco's “Juiced” - but denies that his trainer shot him up with steroids or human growth hormone.
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs
RELATED:
New York Times:
Clemens Says Injections Were Not Steroids — In a “60 Minutes” interview that will be shown on CBS on Sunday night, the former Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens admits that he received injections from his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee. But he says that the injections …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards add Clement, see rotation as ‘legitimate’ — The Cardinals took their first gamble of 2008 on Thursday by signing free-agent pitcher Matt Clement to an incentive-laden, one-year deal that closes a hole in their rotation and creates the possibility of a payoff for 2009 as well.
Discussion:
Cardinals Diaspora
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Agence France Presse:
Hideo Nomo to play minor league baseball for Kansas City Royals — TOKYO (AFP) — Hideo Nomo, who once blazed a trail for Japanese players heading to the US major leagues, said Friday he had signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. — More than a decade after his major league debut …
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Sam Mellinger / Kansas City Star:
Royals sign veteran Japanese pitcher Nomo — Nomo-Mania — or, at least, what's left of it — is coming to the Royals. — Hideo Nomo, the 1995 National League Rookie of the Year, announced on his personal, Japanese-language Web site that he has agreed to terms on a minor-league deal …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Payroll Is at Heart of Santana Debate — Perhaps the most significant story in a busy Yankees off-season has been the emergence of Hank Steinbrenner at the top of the team's hierarchy. Steinbrenner, the senior vice president, has been outspoken on potential player moves, but he cannot and has not acted unilaterally.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, River Ave. Blues, Associated Press, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Sliding Into Home and Bronx Liaison
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Wealth of free agents in waiting — Reality sets in quickly with the start of the new year. — There are 27 players on the free-agent market - Roger Clemens excluded - who made at least $5 million in 2007 who don't have a job yet for 2008. — Home run king Barry Bonds heads the list.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Ten best World Series Game Sixes ever — The World Series has made it to Game Six in 61 of its 103 Octobers. However, these games have an advantage that makes up for their scarcity. All could end the season. Someone has to have three wins beforehand. — One interesting theme …
Discussion:
6-4-2
