Top News:
David W. Chen / New York Times:
City Pressed Hard for Use of Yankee Luxury Suite — The Bloomberg administration was so intent on obtaining a free luxury suite for its own use at the new Yankee Stadium, newly released e-mail messages show, that the mayor's aides pushed for a larger suite and free food …
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
City demanded free suite, food from Yankees, e-mails reveal — Mayor Bloomberg's top aides engaged in a behind-the-scenes brawl to win a free luxury suite at the new Yankee Stadium that could wind up costing taxpayers, e-mails show. — Some of the mayor's top deputies spent months threatening and cajoling to get the free skybox.
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 …
RELATED:
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
O's may fit as third team in Peavy deal — Reportedly discussing Pie with Cubs, who would get Padres ace — The Orioles may end up as a third team in a three-way deal that would send Padres right-hander Jake Peavy to the Cubs, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Lowe in win-win situation — He'll strike it rich with a contender — He spent Thanksgiving with his family in Fort Myers, Fla., watching his beloved Detroit Lions lose again, working out like a fiend with former Red Sox and Pedro Martínez trainer Chris Correnti …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates in the Caribbean: Mining for diamonds — Part 1: A young Dominican outduels peers who play baseball ‘for food’ — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — It is 9 a.m., and the November sun is searing this walled-off urban minefield of a baseball diamond, where Sadid Frias has filed into a fidgeting line of 17 hopeful teenagers.
Nat Boyle / MLB Rumors:
Rosenthal's Latest: Dunn, Wood, Sheets — By Nat Boyle [November 30 at 9:53am CST] — Ken Rosenthal suggests that in this economy some teams may not offer arbitration to Type A free agents to avoid risking a payroll hit. Further, some players may opt to accept the certainty of arbitration over “a volatile free agent period.”
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Kennedy impresses in Puerto Rico — Ian Kennedy is doing some nice work in Puerto Rico for the Indios de Mayaguez. Here are his stats through four starts: — 19.2 innings — 11 hits — 5 earned runs — 1 home run — 9 walks — 18 strikeouts — Opposing BA: .169 — WHIP: 1.02
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
MLB INSIDER: Mets trying to catch up? — Earlier this offseason, the Mets asked the Rangers about catcher Gerald Laird, just as they did last year, a person familiar with the situation said. — There hasn't been much discussion there lately; the Mets, as we all know, have prioritized the renovation of their pitching staff.
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays plan extra rest for pitchers after long season — James Shields, with a 25-inning jump from 2007, was one of several Rays pitchers forced to work harder than ever. — Times] — If Rays fans don't see James Shields or Matt Garza pitching in games during the first week or so of spring training, they shouldn't worry.