Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Pedroia named AL MVP — Boston second baseman did it all in sophomore season — BOSTON — Just call him Mr. November. Or better yet, refer to Dustin Pedroia as the Most Valuable Player of the American League. — The second baseman of the Boston Red Sox continued his rapid burst …
Discussion:
YFSF, Lookout Landing, River Avenue Blues, The Joy of Sox, iYankees, The Bottom Line and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Most Valuable: Pedroia — Dustin Pedroia has collected his share of trophies and accolades this offseason, and this afternoon, the Red Sox' little second baseman claimed the biggest individual honor of all. — Pedroia was named the American League Most Valuable Player today …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Ryan Dempster close to re-signing with Cubs — The Cubs have reached agreement on a multiyear contract with free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster, and the two-time All-Star is expected to sign the deal today, according to multiple sources. — It's expected to be a four-year deal worth at least $52 million.
RELATED:
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Dempster to re-sign with Cubs, set A.J. Burnett market? — A baseball official close to the situation, who requested anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced, said the Cubs and Ryan Dempster have agreed on a four-year contract worth about $52 million.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Cubs, Dempster agree to four-year, $52M contract — CHICAGO — Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a four-year contract worth about $52 million. — Dempster, 31, has a 76-81 record in 11 seasons with Florida, Cincinnati and Chicago.
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKEES PREPARE A.J. OFFER — Who says George Steinbrenner has stepped away from the table? — The Yankees, for the second time inside a week, are on the verge of making an eye-popping offer to a free-agent pitcher and behaving like the days when The Boss threw money at free agents with both hands.
RELATED:
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yankees gunning for Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett, sources say — The Yankees have expressed strong interest in righthanded pitchers Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett in the past couple of days, according to sources familiar with the talks, after offering ace lefty CC Sabathia a contract in the ballpark of six years and $140 million.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, BASEBALL HOT CORNER, Boston Herald, River Avenue Blues, iYankees and Ken Davidoff's baseball …
Toronto Star:
Burnett a wait-and-see for Ricciardi — Yankees rumoured to be preparing large offer for prized free agent — If it's true we tend to pursue that which retreats, the Blue Jays are playing things perfectly with A.J. Burnett as their main target. — Asked yesterday what he thought …
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans
Ken Davidoff / Ken Davidoff's baseball insider:The language of baseball winter
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Pedro trying to extend Met life — Pedro Martinez still has “a lot of baseball left in him” and would like to finish his sure-fire Hall of Fame career in Flushing, according to his agent. — Fernando Cuza told the Daily News yesterday that Martinez would “like to stay in New York.”
RELATED:
David Lennon / Newsday:Mets' offer to Francisco Rodriguez not in place just yet
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Phil Sheridan / Philly.com:
MVP voting is out of whack — Ryan Howard was the most valuable player in the National League in 2008. That he was not voted MVP by the Baseball Writers' Association of America says more about the association than about Howard, Albert Pujols or America. — Pujols was not an embarrassing selection …
Discussion:
ShysterBall, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, crashburnalley.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding and Baseball Musings
RELATED:
Tampabaycom / The Heater:
Tampa Bay Rays' fired mascot speaks out — Performer Kelly Frank, the woman who perfected Raymond's trademark butt shimmy, said she does not know why she was fired Monday after five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. — “I'm just as confused as everyone else,” she said. “I really didn't get an explanation.”
RELATED:
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Rick Sutcliffe still pitching for the Cubs; urges Jake Peavy to consider playing in Chicago — ESPN analyst talks up team to Padres' Peavy — Rick Sutcliffe, who won the 1984 National League Cy Young Award with the Cubs, has been working, on his own, to convince Padres pitcher Jake Peavy to approve a possible trade to the Cubs.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Why so few NL MVP votes for Hanley Ramirez? — It's not as if the Marlins existed in another universe; their 84-77 record was a half-game better than the Dodgers', and they did it in the best division in the National League — the division with the world champions. — Albert Pujols deserved the Most Valuable Player Award.
Associated Press:
Ripken susp. Nicaraguan clinics after shootings … MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is suspending his baseball clinics for Nicaraguan youth because the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for the country. — The U.S. Embassy says Ripken suspended …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Giants add Affeldt; Cards look at options — As the market for lefthanded relievers revved up with the Giants' signing of Jeremy Affeldt on Monday, the Cardinals apparently have focused their courtship on two lefties to add to their bullpen while keeping tabs on other options.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants bolster bullpen with Affeldt — Club lands sought-after free agent with two-year, $8 million deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Acting quickly on their vow to strengthen their bullpen, the Giants signed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year, $8 million contract Monday.
RELATED:
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:Giants sign P Affeldt to 2-yr., $8M deal
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com, McCovey Chronicles, Sabernomics, Mets Fever, Mets Today, Extra Baggs and MLB Rumors
