Top News:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Five too high for A.J. Burnett: Yankees — The Yankees are on an all-out pitching blitz, but A.J. Burnett's desire for a five-year contract has bogged down the Bombers' pursuit of the righthander, according to a baseball executive familiar with the team's thinking.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Yankees may not make Burnett an offer — Club reportedly could pass on righty if he insists on five-year deal — The Yankees haven't been shy about floating large sums of cash in their search for pitching this offseason, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're ready to meet one of the requests of free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
What if Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe jilt Yankees? — Whiffing on 3 biggest free-agent pitchers could cause chaos — With no playoffs in 2008 and a new stadium opening in 2009, the New York Yankees are trying their hardest to make the three top free-agent starting pitchers extremely rich.
Alex Walsh / MLB Rumors:
Yankees “What If”: No A.J., CC, Lowe? — By Alex Walsh [November 22 at 2:47pm CST] — No new official information has been reported from either side—but that may be precisely why articles about the scenario where the Yankees fail to sign a big name free agent starting pitcher this offseason are starting to show up.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
YANKEES: Five years for Burnett? — His agent says he can get it, but Yanks would prefer only four — Darek Braunecker, the representative for A.J. Burnett, said Friday night that his client will be able to sign a five-year deal this offseason, although he didn't identify the team willing …
Poughkeepsie Journal:
Mets reportedly considering adding closer Hoffman — MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE — This winter's market for closers has created a sort of perfect storm for the New York Mets — in desperate need of a closer and presented with a surplus of candidates and not enough big-market teams to pay them all.
ESPN.com:
Dodgers' Billingsley has surgery after fall at home — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley had surgery on Saturday after fracturing his leg in a fall at his Pennsylvania home. — Team spokesman Josh Rawitch said that the 24-year-old Billingsley slipped on ice outside his house in Reading …
Discussion:
Baseball Crank
Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com:
Patience becoming a virtue for Bourn — Center fielder off to a hot start at the plate in Dominican — It took until November, but center fielder Michael Bourn is finally producing at the plate in 2008. — Playing winter ball for the first time, the speedy leadoff man has addressed three key areas …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Hal takes reins, but News had it last year — Quite a historic week in baseball - George Steinbrenner officially cedes control of the Yankees to his younger son, Hal, Mike Mussina becomes the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1966 to retire off a 20-win season and Dustin Pedroia becomes …
Kate Sheehy / New York Post:
METS MAY PAY FOR CITI SLUMP — EDGY ABOUT $400M DEAL — The Mets better not get too attached to the name Citi Field. — Team officials are said to be increasingly nervous as struggling Citigroup's stock continues to plummet - and potentially endangers their $20 million-a-year naming-rights deal for the new $850 million stadium.
Discussion:
New York Times, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Field of Schemes, Can't Stop The Bleeding and 24 Hours From Suicide
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Anderson hires Boras as his agent — The outfielder, whose option the Angels didn't pick up, will be represented by Boras in free agency. — Recommend — ANAHEIM - The Angels might have another reason to call Scott Boras this winter. — Free-agent outfielder Garret Anderson has hired Boras as his agent.
