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, The 'Ropolitans, 24 Hours From Suicide, Ya Gotta Believe 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, NY Daily News, NJ.com, River Avenue Blues, Lady At The Bat, Surviving Grady and 24 Hours From Suicide
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.
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?
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:
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