Top News:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Teams starting to make pitches — Just as the Red Sox were announcing a new $40.5 million contract for Dustin Pedroia yesterday, baseball's sputtering offseason finally began to whir. The pitching market began to develop, and the price appeared to be going up.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB FanHouse, iYankees, Beerleaguer, Phillies Nation and Sliding Into Home
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Tazawa: ‘I wanted to challenge myself’ — Junichi Tazawa met the Boston media at Fenway Park on Thursday. (Essdras M. Suarez/Globe Staff) — The Red Sox today formally announced the signing of 22-year-old Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, who is expected to start his career in the minors.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Sabathia's heart may be in S.F. — Just how badly does CC Sabathia want to pitch at home in California? We may find out very soon. — Sources say the Giants are considering a play for Sabathia, although their only hope of landing the big lefthander would be for him to take an extreme hometown discount.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, New York Post, JSOnline, MLB Rumors, McCovey Chronicles, Sliding Into Home and iYankees
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Detroit Tigers acquire SS Jack Wilson from Pirates — It seems to be the week for shortstop roulette on the Hot Stove, and the latest is that the Pirates have sent Jack Wilson to the Tigers. — The teams had been in discussions for a while, but according to a person familiar with the deal, it is done.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
No Jack Wilson Deal — By Tim Dierkes [December 4 at 2:30pm CST] — 2:30pm: Jenifer Langosch talked to Wilson, who said he's open to revising his no-trade list. He doesn't seem likely to veto a trade. — 12:41pm: Jon Paul Morosi's source says the Tigers' talks for Wilson have become “more active and meaningful” recently.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: Putz Made Available, Bradford and Baldelli — 1. A rumor was floated yesterday that the Mets are working on a blockbuster that would net them both Bobby Jenks and Jermaine Dye from the White Sox, with top prospect Fernando Martinez going to Chicago. Talked to a few Met officials who called it nonsense.
Discussion:
MVN, DRaysBay, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, Mike Silva's NY Baseball … and The 'Ropolitans
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Torre says Pettitte not going to Dodgers — Joe Torre has spoken with Andy Pettitte, the Dodgers' manager confirmed to Newsday, but doesn't foresee Pettitte heading West for a reunion with his former manager. — “I don't think that's going to happen,” Torre said Thursday, in a telephone interview.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves make offer to free-agent pitcher Burnett — GM Wren wouldn't discuss terms, but offer believed to be four years with option for fifth year — The Braves have made an offer to free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett, who is considered the second-best starter available this offseason behind CC Sabathia.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, The Yankee Scrolls, iYankees, Hot Foot and Sliding Into Home
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Shortstop Greene heading to St. Louis — The Padres and Cardinals have agreed to a trade that will send shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis. — The Padres are expected to get pitching in return for Greene, but this move appears to be more about moving Greene's $6.5 million salary in anticipation of a much smaller payroll in 2009.
Discussion:
MLB.com, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LA Times Sports Blog, MLB FanHouse, MASN Online, River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Tough call coming for Manny — The last time that the agent for Manny Ramirez spoke with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, Barack Obama was on television in the background, making his acceptance speech on the night he was elected president. Since then, the Dodgers withdrew that two-year, $45 million offer to Ramirez.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, SPORTSbyBROOKS, LA Times Sports Blog, Baseball Musings, Blue Notes, umpbump.com and Dodger Thoughts
JSOnline:
Brewers sign Julio — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has resurrected the careers of closers in the past, such as Derrick Turnbow, Dan Kolb and Francisco Cordero. — Perhaps he'll do it again with Jorge Julio.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Reds sign Lincoln to two-year deal — While the Rockies are moving methodically in their search for relievers, a few have come off the board over the last few days. The Cincinnati Reds signed right-handed free agent Mike Lincoln to a two-year, $4-million deal accoding to contract information obtained by The Denver Post.
Fox Sports:
Market shaping up for Adam Dunn — He may not be Manny or Teixeira, but signing Adam Dunn won't cost a pick. That means teams are lining up, Ken Rosenthal says.
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog, MetsBlog.com, Sliding Into Home, Hot Stove Blog, Pinstripes, Pa. and iYankees
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Mientkiewicz giving Pirates ‘the final say’ — He would welcome return, but still covets chance to start — Doug Mientkiewicz has told the Pirates they will have “the final say” on where he plays in 2009. — The team's popular utilityman and clubhouse leader is a free agent and has drawn …
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Joe Posnanski:
A Hall of Fame Manifesto — So, the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot arrived in the mail on Tuesday ... and brilliant readers already know that this time of year makes me crazy. Here we are, back at the beginning, back with the Jack Morris and Jim Rice arguments, back wondering why more people …