Top News:
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.
Discussion:
Sabernomics, Ivy Chat, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, For the Record, MLB Rumors, Hire Jim Essian!, umpbump.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres not ruling out Braves for Peavy — Cubs might be out of mix for pitching with Dempster signing — SAN DIEGO — With the Cubs signing free-agent pitcher Ryan Dempster to a contract to stay in Chicago, Padres general manager Kevin Towers figures to have an even tougher job ahead …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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.
Associated Press:
Cubs, Dempster reach 4-year deal … CHICAGO (AP) — Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012. — He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011.
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
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, Lone Star Ball, Lookout Landing, River Avenue Blues, The Joy of Sox, iYankees and The Bottom Line
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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 …
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.
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Yankees gunning for Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett, sources say
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Boston Herald, BASEBALL HOT CORNER, River Avenue Blues, iYankees and Ken Davidoff's baseball …
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.”
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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
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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.”
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs express interest in Vazquez — Free-agent infielder could potentially fill hole at second base — PHOENIX — The D-backs have had informal conversations with the agent for free-agent infielder Ramon Vazquez and are expected to have more detailed discussions later this week.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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.
Anne Marie Chaker / Wall Street Journal:
Winner By a Hair: Collectors Wooed With a Bit of Abe Lincoln — On a recent evening, Barbara Ann Artusa and her husband hunkered down on the living room floor for their Saturday night ritual: opening packs of baseball cards. — That night, however, Ms. Artusa, a baseball-card collector since the 1970s …
