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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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 …
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
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
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Delgado Prepares to Hit; Minaya Is Going to Israel
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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 …
RELATED:
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
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
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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
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards bring back Miles with one-year contract — The Cardinals fortified their infield depth by bringing Aaron Miles back with a one-year contract finalized Friday, the team confirmed this morning. — Miles returns for a third season with the Cardinals and will provide depth for both middle infield positions.
Pirate Blues / Pittsburgh Pirates:
Mariners/Pirates deal; No Clement? Aw shucks.. — The Pirates and Mariners have been talking for quite some time it seems as we heard Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington passed on a Jones-Morrow-Sherrill deal for Snell in December. — A few of my scouting buds are questioning whether …
RELATED:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Huntington set with Pirates' starters
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., Mets Fever, Where have you gone …, Baseball Musings and Bucs Dugout
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.
Scott Lauber / delawareonline:
Huge raise on the way for Howard — Arbitration will jump slugger's salary, and long-term deal could be possible — Most of their offseason shopping is complete, but the Phillies still must make one of their biggest decisions before spring training. — Should they sign Ryan Howard to a long-term contract?
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
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
