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 …
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
When will he convert awards into cash? — Pedroia adds MVP to his trophy haul — First two years in the bigs, Rookie of the Year and MVP. — Where do you go from here if you're Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox? — The Sox don't think the hardware changes anything about their contractual approach to Pedroia.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Hardware score — Pedroia adds MVP to his trophy haul
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Evan Grant on leaving off Pedroia
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog, MLB FanHouse, Associated Press, The Joy of Sox, Twinkie Town and Fox Sports
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Source: Yanks still trying to woo Burnett — The Yankees still are preparing a formal offer for righthanded pitcher A.J. Burnett, a club official said yesterday, but the Red Sox have become serious competitors to land him. — The Red Sox's pursuit of Burnett complicates the Yankees' plans.
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog, River Avenue Blues, iYankees, Over the Monster, MLB Rumors and New York Post
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees and Red Sox in battle over pitcher A.J. Burnett — The Yankees and Red Sox won't meet again on the field until April, but the two American League East rivals are preparing to square off for the services of at least one major free agent in the coming weeks.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Swisher set to give Bombers old college try — Derek Jeter has four championship rings and a resume that should land him in the Hall of Fame. But when the Yankees report to camp in February, none of that will matter to Nick Swisher as long as Ohio State beats Michigan this weekend.
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 …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs showing interest in KC's Teahen — Right fielder could present cost-feasible solution for power lefty — CHICAGO — Now that the Cubs have taken care of their first offseason priority and have re-signed Ryan Dempster, the next move is to find a left-handed bat for the middle of the order.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Seattle Times:
Don Wakamatsu will be Mariners' manager — Oakland Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu is to be introduced to Seattle on Wednesday as the new manager of the Mariners. — Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik this afternoon told the six other candidates for the job that he was going in a different direction.
RELATED:
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.
John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:Wakamatsu the man? Not yet, at least
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves shift offseason pitching strategy — Even with hurlers coming off market, Atlanta still optimistic — ATLANTA — Now that the starting pitching options have started to dwindle on the free-agent market, it's even easier to understand why the Braves worked so hard in an attempt to acquire ace Jake Peavy.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets have choice of either K-Rod or Fuentes — The Mets have many goals and many choices in this baseball offseason, but as they take in the lay of the land now, they think they know this: — Acquiring a closer will be first on their list of accomplishments.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
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Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:Mets/K-Rod marriage getting closer?
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide, Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, MetsBlog.com, Mets Fever, Newsday, Ya Gotta Believe and MLB Rumors
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers show interest in Dodgers lefty Joe Beimel — The Tigers have shown interest in signing free-agent reliever Joe Beimel, the left-hander's agent said today. — Beimel, 31, went 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 71 appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.
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Charles Isherwood / New York Times:
Peanuts, Cracker Jack and Some Illegal Juice — “Back Back Back,” a new play by Itamar Moses about baseball's steroids scandal, could actually use a little juicing itself. Mr. Moses' disappointingly drama-free drama does little more than skim the surface of the protracted controversy …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
New York Post:
BERNIE: I'M NOT DONE YET — Musician Bernie Williams said last night he has a new CD coming out in April called “Moving Forward.” — Just in case any GMs like Brian Cashman are interested, Williams also said he has not shut the door on his baseball career. Williams, 40, is not totally ready to move forward away from baseball.
Richard Justice / Houston Chronicle:
Commentary: Valverde, Wigginton have to go — Goodbye, Jose Valverde. You, too, Ty Wigginton. Pick up your lovely parting gifts at the door. — The Astros seem likely to trade both of them in the next few weeks. You won't like the reason. Don't shoot the messenger.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
