Top News:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Derek Lowe eyes dollars, so Mets might try cheaper options — Derek Lowe is a hotter commodity in the free-agent market than the Mets envisioned, a development that is forcing them to rethink their plan of signing the 35-year-old righthander and plugging him into Oliver Perez's spot in the starting rotation.
Discussion:
Mets Fever, Ya Gotta Believe, 24 Hours From Suicide, The 'Ropolitans and Can't Stop The Bleeding
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees in need of a killer-instinct rotation — What the Yankees missed most of all in 2008, you sense from talking to people around the team, is that intimidation factor one gets only from possessing a strong, deep starting rotation. — When the Yankees rode the bus from their Toronto hotel …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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.
Discussion:
Newsday, NJ.com, NY Daily News, River Avenue Blues, Surviving Grady, Lady At The Bat and 24 Hours From Suicide
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.
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.
Orange County Register:
Angels likely not on Teixeira's wish list — The free-agent first baseman seems to be leaning toward an East Coast team. — Recommend — Spraying to all fields, wondering what Angels fans want for Christmas: — Well, we found out this week what Angels free agent Mark Teixeira wants — a home for the holidays.
New York Post:
YANKS & METS FACE COMPETITION FOR FREE-AGENT ARMS THEY CRAVE — The Yanks also have indicated they will put a time limit on their six-year, $140 million offer for Sabathia. But that is a worthless time limit. They said last year they would not re-sign Alex Rodriguez if he opted out …
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
On the Coast, it's very clear — Dodgers, Angels need to keep their sluggers — The Los Angeles teams can't afford to lose the best hitters on the free agent market: Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramírez. And deep down, they know it. — Question is, can either afford to keep them?
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.
Ray McNulty / TCPalm.com:
Gary Carter deserves a chance to coach in the big leagues — Maybe, just maybe, there's some truth to Gary Carter's suspicions that he has been blackballed in baseball. — How else do you explain his conspicuous absence from a game in which he has enjoyed so much success?
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
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 …
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 …
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