Top News:
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Furcal's agent: No contract offer from A's — The agent for Rafael Furcal called “bogus” a report out of the Dominican Republic claiming the Oakland Athletics had offered the free-agent shortstop a four-year, $48 million contract. — Agent Paul Kinzer also shot down a rumor the Mets …
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Dylan Hernandez / LA Times Sports Blog:
Has Rafael Furcal played his last game with the Dodgers? — Rafael Furcal's tenure with the Dodgers could be over. — The free agent shortstop told El Caribe that he would return from his native Dominican Republic to the United States on Monday to sign a contract — and judging by what he said …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants-Renteria Rumor False — By Tim Dierkes [November 24 at 5:02pm CST] — 5:02pm: Via an email from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, Renteria's agent Barry Meister says the report of Renteria signing is not true. Renteria is at home in Colombia; nothing is close.
Discussion:
Tiger Tales, El Lefty Malo, MetsBlog.com, MVN, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, McCovey Chronicles and Hot Foot
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Henry Schulman / SFGate:
Renteria? Furcal? Honus Wagner? — UPDATE: Talked to Bobby Evans, the Giants' director of player personal, and he also said there is no deal, although he did confirm the team continues to talk to Renteria, Furcal and others. — WFAN, a radio station in New York, is reporting the Giants …
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Rob Bradford / WEEI Blogs:
Sources: Initial offer to Varitek for one year — According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the Red Sox' initial contract offer to free agent catcher Jason Varitek this offseason was for one year. It was not determined what the monetary worth of the offer would be …
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse, Center Field, SOX & Dawgs, Fire Brand of the …, Over the Monster, Fenway West, Bugs & Cranks and ShysterBall
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Boras: Sox haven't begun Varitek talks — Scott Boras, the representative for free agent Jason Varitek, told the Globe's Nick Cafardo this afternoon that the Red Sox have not begun any negotiations with the 36-year-old catcher. — Boras also said he knows nothing of a reported one-year offer made by the ballclub to Varitek.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
BREITBART.COM:
LEAD: Baseball: Tazawa gets offer from Rangers, nearing decision+ — TOKYO, Nov. 24 (AP) - (Kyodo)—(EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE INFO) — Highly regarded Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa received a lucrative offer from the Texas Rangers on Monday and is expected to decide on his future shortly, his manager said.
Discussion:
NPB Tracker, Foul Territory, MLB FanHouse, Baseball Time in Arlington and Hot Stove Blog
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Patrick / NPB Tracker:
Details on Boston's Offer to Tazawa — Sponichi has published a detailed account of the contract Boston offered to Junichi Tazawa. The article also quotes “They want me to come over, and I understand how I can develop. I feel like it's a good team”. Nikkan Sports is reporting that Tazawa …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Astros acquire Lumsden from Royals — Houston adds depth to stock of southpaw pitchers — HOUSTON — The Astros acquired left-hander Tyler Lumsden from the Kansas City Royals on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The announcement was made by general manager Ed Wade.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Kansas City Royals — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Mark Fainaru-Wada / ESPN.com:
Judge throws out 3 counts in Bonds' perjury case — SAN FRANCISCO — As the Barry Bonds perjury case continues to move toward a March jury trial, the judge on Monday dismissed three of the 15 counts but left intact the bulk of the government's charges against the former Giants slugger.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Rob Iracane / Walkoff Walk:
Baseball Yatra is Great Success: Pirates Sign Rinku and Dinesh — My favorite new Japanese baseball blog NPB Tracker has the biggest and best news of the week: the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed our favorite Indian contest winners Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel to minor league contracts!
Discussion:
NPB Tracker, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Deadspin, Bucs Dugout, MLB Rumors and Where have you gone …