Top News:
NY Daily News:
Madden: Baseball's top 10 turkeys — Leftovers anyone? Fortunately, baseball once again had a plentiful supply of turkeys this season. Here's our annual Daily News top 10, completely basted. — 10. ROGER CLEMENS — Okay, he didn't make another comeback in '08 …
New York Post:
AMAZIN' SURPRISE STAR TATIS BUILDS CHURCH — Earlier this week, Fernando Tatis walked into a church in his Dominican Republic hometown of San Pedro de Macoris and gave thanks. This was not just any church and not just any thanks. — This was the Jerusalem First Church …
Baltimore Sun:
Sources: Orioles revisit trade talks for Pie — Team could land Cubs outfielder in three-way deal with Padres, who would send RHP Peavy to Chicago — The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Chicago Cubs about multi-tool outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — Hank Sauer, my mother-in-law Gwen's favorite player as a kid. — Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.
Discussion:
Cubs f/x
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Where are they now? Former Met Jon Matlack — Many of the pitchers Jon Matlack works with now as the minor-league pitching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers have no idea how good Matlack was as a vital member of a sparkling Met rotation in the 1970s. One former pupil who had been traded came running …
Bob Verdi / Chicago Tribune:
When Maddux says goodbye, he'll do it quietly — On the cell from his home in Las Vegas, Greg Maddux sounded as though he probably has made a decision. But there are more important things in life, like the game of golf he just played with son Chase. — “I'll figure it out soon, one way or another,” said dad.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
With Several Bullpen Spots to Fill, Mets Are Making Sure to Explore All Options — The Mets remain interested in the free-agent closers Francisco Rodríguez and Brian Fuentes, but they will continue to scour the trade market for relievers before engaging in substantive discussions with either pitcher …
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Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Happy Birthday, Minnie, No Matter Your Age — Depending on the source, Minnie Miñoso either turns 83 or 86 years old today. — Miñoso's actual age may or may not matter at this point. What's most important is that he's alive and apparently doing well.
MLB.com:
Red Sox acquire right-handed pitcher Wes Littleton from Texas Rangers — For two players to be named later or cash considerations — BOSTON — The Red Sox today acquired righthanded pitcher Wes Littleton from the Texas Rangers in exchange for two players to be named later or cash considerations.
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Larry LaRue / Mariners Insider:
A few Thankgiving leftovers - tidbits from a slow off-season — It just seems quiet on the baseball front. Look around hard enough, there's always tidbits. — Here are a few of interest. — Raul Ibanez remains high on the list of at least three playoff-caliber teams, with the Cubs …
Fox Sports:
The stove has been working overtime in recent years — With Thanksgiving — a day in which the full limits of our kitchen stoves were pushed to the test — having come and gone, it is only appropriate the baseball Hot Stove be running at full force. — And if the big free-agent signings …
Joe Posnanski:
King George — Every city in the country, I suppose, has its own relationship with New York City — you know, much the same way that every college basketball team in the old ACC had a rivalry with North Carolina. The City is just omnipresent in American life.
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates plan patience with offseason moves — Wilson, Grabow, Paulino discussed in trades; little in free agency — The way general manager Neal Huntington sees it, the Pirates' coming winter could be downright tumultuous. — Or not. — “It could be an offseason where there is a significant change …
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