Top News:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Angels face crucial arbitration calls — K-Rod, Teixeira, Anderson among five players eligible — The Angels, in a winter of major decisions, have until 9 p.m. PT Monday to extend arbitration offers to an impressive quintet of six-year Major League free agents: Mark Teixeira …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Arbitration: To offer or not to offer? — It's a tricky business with free agents; this year could be trickier — In ordinary offseasons, the deadline for clubs to offer arbitration to their ranked free agents, which this time arrives Monday at midnight ET, has been a rather predictable occasion.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Where will Anderson land? — Angels beat reporter Lyle Spencer fields fans' questions — Is there any word on what's going to happen with Garret Anderson? He has always been my favorite Angels player. He has one of the sweetest swings in all of baseball.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs face several decisions — Hudson, Dunn among five arbitration-eligible free agents — PHOENIX — The D-backs will have extra picks in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. How many will depend on how many of their free agents they offer salary arbitration to by Monday's 10 p.m. MST deadline.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs likely to offer Wood arbitration — Chicago would receive two Draft picks if closer signs elsewhere — CHICAGO — The Cubs were expected to offer free agent Kerry Wood arbitration on Monday, but they may not do so for their other free agents such as Jim Edmonds, Daryle Ward and Bob Howry.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox likely to offer arbitration to Varitek — Catcher would then bring compensation if he signs elsewhere — BOSTON — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein will face an important deadline when midnight ET strikes at the end of Monday, as he must decide by then whether to extend arbitration offers to his six-year free agents.
Discussion:
El Guapo's Ghost Rambles …
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Unmasking the starting catcher — Beat reporter Alyson Footer answers fans' burning questions — Who do you think will be starting at catcher on Opening Day? Also, how long do you think it will take for Jason Castro to reach the big leagues? — My best guess for Opening …
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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 …
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Watchdog, The LoHud Yankees Blog, River Avenue Blues and iYankees
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Sox, Tazawa have deal in place — While the free agent market continued to move at a snail's pace, a baseball source confirmed today that the Sox have reached agreement with Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa pending the outcome of a physical exam this week. — According to the same source …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
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.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mailbag: How is the 'pen setting up? — Beat reporter Bryan Hoch answers fans' burning questions — All of the talk has been about the starting rotation lately, but not many people are talking about the Yankees' bullpen. Who will we have in relief this season setting up for Mariano Rivera?
Discussion:
iYankees
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 …
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Dye still may be in play — But Jocketty says market is quiet — Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Saturday that the offseason remains quiet. — “Most clubs shut it down on the holidays,” he said. — As for talk that the Reds could be interested in outfielder Jermaine Dye …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Arbitration offer unlikely for Hoffman — Padres, saves king have not talked contract since last month — SAN DIEGO — The Padres have until 9 p.m. PT Monday to offer closer Trevor Hoffman arbitration, though it doesn't appears that will happen. — San Diego general manager Kevin Towers …
