Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Source: Yankees RHP Mussina decides to retire — As expected, New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina has decided to retire, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the situation. Mussina informed the Yankees last week he would give them a decision by the end of this week.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Camden Chat, ShysterBall, Boy of Summer, bronxbanterblog.com and IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS
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New York Post:
COOPERSTOWN VOTE WILL BE A HALLUVA DECISION — THIS was back in spring training, back when Mike Mussina was still lugging around the 5.15 ERA from the season before and all the doubt that comes with that number and another number, 39, his age. — Those numbers suggested all the good stuff …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Mussina Close to Making Retirement Official — Jim Palmer has known Mike Mussina for 17 years, but rarely had his friend seemed as loose and carefree as he did this summer. Mussina was pitching well at age 39, his elbow sturdy, his outlook sunny. He was at peace with his career and content …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mussina plans on retiring — Righty reportedly walking away from game after 20-win season — NEW YORK — Mike Mussina hinted for months that he might be pitching through a big league schedule for the final time, speaking openly about how nice it might be to spend his days at home in Pennsylvania with 20 wins in his back pocket.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Heilman maneuvers — Aaron Heilman doesn't necessarily want out of New York. He just wants out of the bullpen. — But if the Mets insist he remain a reliever, Heilman wants to be traded. — “The object the entire time has never been to get out of New York,” Heilman's agent Mark Rodgers told the Daily News.
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, The 'Ropolitans, New Jersey Online, 24 Hours From Suicide, Mets Fever and The New York Mets Report
Newsday:
Report: CC won't decide on Yanks 'till after Thanksgiving — The Yankees are content to let CC Sabathia take his time on his big decision, and Sabathia will do just that. As first reported by ESPN's Peter Gammons, Sabathia doesn't intend to decide on his next team until after the Thanksgiving weekend.
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals shift focus to depleted bullpen — KC dips into relievers to make deals, but has chips to replenish — KANSAS CITY — Now Royals general manager Dayton Moore has another project: rebuilding the bullpen. — Moving to increase run production, Moore has obtained fleet center fielder Coco Crisp …
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Red Sox acquire Ramon Ramirez for Coco Crisp
Discussion:
Keep Your Sox On
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yanks still have eyes on Teixeira — The Yankees have made their desire for CC Sabathia well known. But when it comes to Mark Teixeira, could the Bombers be laying in the weeds? — GM Brian Cashman has been saying very little when it comes to this year's free-agent market …
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Art Thiel / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners' talent search was well handled — LET'S FACE IT. As long as he didn't also sign Jeff Weaver, or trade Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez, Jack Zduriencik could have hired most any pleasant person to manage the Mariners and it would have gone over all right.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Tribe names Hernandez bullpen coach — Spent past three seasons as pitching coach in Detroit — CLEVELAND — The Indians are still sorting through their bullpen options for next season, but they have settled on a coach for the relief corps. — As announced Wednesday …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Zumaya's rehab affects Tigers' moves — Club looking for relief help with righty's status for '09 uncertain — DETROIT — Joel Zumaya gave the Tigers a triple-digit fastball route to respectability when he went from the Minor Leagues to the back end of Detroit's bullpen at age 21.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Teixeira interested in playing for Nats — Maryland native intrigued by idea of returning home — WASHINGTON — It has been reported several times that the Nationals have interest in signing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. MLB.com has learned that the feeling is mutual …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Towers: Cubs still interested in Peavy — Dempster signing does not end trade talk, Padres general manager says — SAN DIEGO — Padres general manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday night that the Chicago Cubs are “still a player” in the Jake Peavy sweepstakes, even after Chicago signed free …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
USA Today:
Major League Baseball likely to change, not ban, maple bats — By Ray Glier, Special for USA TODAY — Major League Baseball's Safety and Health Advisory Committee is scheduled meet in New York on Friday to discuss the routine shattering and exploding of bats during the 2008 season.
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers add four pitchers to roster — First-round pick Rogers, three others protected from Rule 5 Draft — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers added four pitchers, including 2004 first-round Draft pick Mark Rogers, to their 40-man roster Wednesday, a move to protect those players from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Tom Boorstein / SNY.tv:
A modest proposal — How the Yankees can solve their third-base problem — The Yankees need a plan at third base. What they have now isn't working. — Things were so much better when Scott Brosius was around. That's a third-base plan. Third basemen who put up on-base percentages …
