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.
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Cubs showing interest in Royals' Teahen — The search by the Chicago Cubs for a left-handed bat is targeting Royals outfielder Mark Teahen as a possible solution. — That search figures to intensify in coming days in the wake of Tuesday's announcement by the Cubs that free-agent pitcher Ryan Dempster …
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.
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.
Coley Ward / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Targeting Teahen — By Coley Ward [November 18 at 5:02pm CST] — More fallout from the Ryan Dempster signing. The Kansas City Star's Bob Dutton is reporting the Cubs are once again targeting Mark Teahen to fill their right field vacancy. Dutton says discussions to acquire Teahen …
Discussion:
iYankees
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:
Bless You Boys, SOX & Dawgs, YFSF, Cursed To First, Lookout Landing, The Joy of Sox, Lone Star Ball, River Avenue Blues, 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 …
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk, Projo Sox Blog, Vegas Watch, Baseball Musings, Twinkie Town, Baseball Prospectus, Fox Sports and YFSF
Associated Press:
Source: M's to name Wakamatsu new manager … SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners picked Don Wakamatsu as their new manager, giving the job to the Oakland Athletics bench coach and filling the only opening in the majors. — Wakamatsu was chosen Tuesday over several other candidates …
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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ESPN:
Source: M's to name A's bench coach as manager — And then there was one. — After an extension search, which included seven interviews in four days, the Seattle Mariners are set to name Don Wakamatsu their new manager, a source told ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Wakamatsu gets job — Expect an announcement by tomorrow morning, but Don Wakamatsu, 45, is the new manager of the Mariners. An insider source just called and told me that the six other candidates will be advised shortly that they did not get the job and that Wakamatsu is the guy.
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:
Ken Davidoff / Ken Davidoff's baseball insider:The language of baseball winter
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Is the Peavy thing over? We think not — Hello, it's good to be back and all that. Froze my butt off watching my Jayhawks get their butts whipped by Texas at Lawrence, but the trip was worthwhile because I saw my brother's family, spent time with old friends, and got my fix of Gates BBQ in Kansas City.
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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
Craig Calcaterra / ShysterBall:
Albert Pujols: “not an embarrassing selection” — Look, I want Ken Tremendous to be back just as much as the rest of you, but we have to face facts: Ken Tremendous is not walking through that door. Junior is not walking through that door. Dak is not walking through that door.
RELATED:
Phil Sheridan / Philly.com:MVP voting is out of whack
Discussion:
crashburnalley.com, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Baseball Musings, FanGraphs Baseball and Home Run Derby
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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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Perez keeping eye on free-agent market — Left-hander interested in returning to Nationals next season — WASHINGTON — Don't look for left-hander Odalis Perez to sign a Major League contract soon. His agent, Martin Arburua, said recently that Perez is going to see how the free-agent market plays …
