Top News:
Boston Herald:
Mirabelli, Sox reach one-year deal — Tim Wakefield will have his favorite catcher back behind the plate next season. — Doug Mirabelli [stats], 37, agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Red Sox [team stats]. He will make approximately $550,000 guaranteed, with incentives that could roughly double the total value.
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Report: Mets gaining in Santana race — National League club could have edge in dealings with Twins — MINNEAPOLIS — Since the Johan Santana sweepstakes began in late November, the Yankees and the Red Sox have been considered the frontrunners in the race for the ace.
Discussion:
MetsNetwork.com, You can't script baseball, Pinstriped Scranton, Mets Fever and Phillies Nation
Tony Massarotti / Clubhouse Insider:
Mirabelli to return — The Red Sox have done relatively little to address their bench so far this offseason, but the team is on the verge of addressing its catching situation by bringing back Doug Mirabelli. — According to sources, Mirabelli has agreed in principle a one-year deal …
J. Weitzel / Beerleaguer:Abridged MetsBlog: Santana deal hinges on prospect
Discussion:
Hot Stove New York
Joe / Around the Majors:Santana's asking price hasn't changed
Discussion:
Dugout Central, Brooklyn Met Fan, Nick & Nick's Twins Blog, Blastings! Thrilledge, Hot Stove New York, Chop-n-Change, Bugs & Cranks, Depressed Fan, Global New York Mets Fan Blog, MetsNetwork.com, Twins Territory, MetsBlog.com, Mets Fever, Ya Gotta Believe, Sox and Pinstripes and Bronx Liaison
Thayer Evans / New York Times:
Knoblauch Ends Silence About Report From Mitchell — HOUSTON — In his first public comments since the Mitchell report was released last month, the former Yankee Chuck Knoblauch said on Thursday that he was not angry about being named in the report, although he did not explicitly admit …
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS, New York Yankees Update, Sliding Into Home, ShysterBall and Scott Proctor's Arm
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T.J. Quinn / ESPN.com:
Immunity not expected for Clemens, source says … A congressional source said Thursday that a House committee does not expect to give immunity to former pitcher Roger Clemens or four other witnesses who are scheduled to testify about performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball on Feb. 13.
Discussion:
Washington Post
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees sign OF Lane — Brian Cashman said on YES tonight that the Yankees have signed Jason Lane to a minor-league deal. — A right-handed bat, Lane can play all three OF spots and a little first base. He's 31 and coming off two hideous seasons. He did hit 26 homers in 2005.
Fox Sports:
Yanks join Brewers and others in pursuit of Cameron — The Brewers face strong competition for free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron, perhaps stronger than they even imagined.
Discussion:
Brewers Blog, MY BASEBALL BIAS, WasWatching.com, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS and MLB Trade Rumors
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Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
Kennedy: Member Of '04 Red Sox Used PEDs — On the drive home tonight, from work, I caught the very last minutes of The Show on X-Radio (MLB Home Plate) with Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy. — At that time, Kevin Kennedy was addressing a caller who had some thoughts on the Mitchell Report.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Gonzalez likes idea of joining Marlins — Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria doesn't always take time to help the front office recruit players, but he did this week with 40-year-old outfielder Luis Gonzalez. — Loria told Gonzalez, according to his agent, that the Marlins would love to sign him to provide leadership for the young team.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Larry Dobrow / CBS SportsLine.com:
Paper-clipping five more to Congress' hearings — It's been said that Congress will waste its time and ours with next week's planned hearing on performance-enhancing substances in baseball. It's been suggested that maybe they should devote their idle hours to pesky issues like poverty or immigration …
MLB.com:
Open auditions for 2008 Marlins Mermaids dance team on Jan. 20 — The Florida Marlins will hold open auditions for the 2008 Marlins Mermaids Dance Team at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 11 am. — WHAT: Open auditions for 2008 Marlins Mermaids Dance Team
Discussion:
FishStripes
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers could add pitcher Jennings — Source says Rangers are close to deal with veteran right-hander — egrant@dallasnews.com — The Texas Rangers appear to be closing in on a deal to add veteran right-hander Jason Jennings, a Dallas native, to their starting rotation.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Maddon envisions Rays cracking .500 — ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays open spring training five weeks from today convinced they have fewer questions than before and confident they'll end up with more wins than ever. — At least 81, from what manager Joe Maddon envisions. “I think it's a reasonable goal,” Maddon said.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
‘Melk-man’ to be delivered a Thurman — Yanks' center fielder, four others recognized for philanthropy — NEW YORK — The word “energy” became an inside catch-phrase for the Yankees' clubhouse last season, with Melky Cabrera's youthful spirit serving as a major driving force toward the team's second-half turnaround.
