Top News:
John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
Vegas updates 4:50p.m. —Free agent Jason Giambi met with the Rays on Tuesday and is a candidate to fill their DH slot. —The Brewers are expected to move to the head of the class in the Brian Fuentes sweepstakes now that free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez has agreed to terms on a three-year …
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians close to deal with closer Wood — Offer to ex-Cubs fireballer might include option for third year — LAS VEGAS — The Indians appear to be close to signing closer Kerry Wood to a two-year contract, MLB.com has learned. — The offer to Wood might include an option for a third year …
Hot Stove Blog:
Brewers jump into closer chase — The Brewers entered the market for free agent closers on Tuesday, meeting with representatives for Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood. — General manager Doug Melvin met in the morning with Pat Rooney, who represents Wood, and Rick Thurman, who has both Fuentes and Hoffman.
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
METS, K-ROD CONTINUE TALKS — LAS VEGAS - Mets officials and representatives for Francisco Rodriguez were huddled this morning in attempts to put the last items in place for a contract that will bring the elite closer to New York on a contract in three-year, $37 million range.
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ESPN.com:
Sources: Mets agree to 3-year deal with K-Rod — The New York Mets agreed to a three-year deal with free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. — Rodriguez's deal, worth $37 million plus additional incentives, is pending a physical, which the New York Post reported will take place Wednesday.
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
UPDATED: Giants talk to Sabathia's camp; Yanks rumored to be out, Brewers emerging — UPDATE: An executive close to the CC Sabathia talks told me the perception is that the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner. — It's been confirmed to me that the Giants had discussions with CC Sabathia's camp …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Yahoo! Sports, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, MetsBlog.com, New York Post, New York Times, Hardball Times, MLB FanHouse, ESPN, Blogging the Bombers, LA Times Sports Blog, JSOnline, The Yankee Scrolls, ESPN, Sliding Into Home, Newsday and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
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JSOnline:
The truth about the Brewers' offer — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Las Vegas - Here is the real scoop on the Brewers' offer to free agent lefty CC Sabathia, straight from the mouth of general manager Doug Melvin: — he Brewers have not increased their initial offer to Sabathia.
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Sabathia slipping from Dodgers' grasp?
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers, Mariners actively discussing Putz trade — LAS VEGAS - This morning, the Tigers and Seattle Mariners have discussed a trade that would bring closer J.J. Putz back to his home state. — It's not clear if the clubs are close to a deal, but the talks appear to be ongoing.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, TigerBlog, Mariners Blog, Bless You Boys, MLB FanHouse, Al's Ramblings, Mariners Insider, Hot Foot, Detroit Tigers and MLB Rumors
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Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Cashman leaves hotel for mystery meeting — A.J. Burnett? — UPDATE (9:55 pm): OK, I think I have it now. Cashman did leave the hotel to meet with Burnett. But that's not the only meeting he has tonight. The person referenced in my first update, when I asked whether Cashman was meeting with Burnett …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, WasWatching.com, MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, Scott Proctor's Arm and Fenway West
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Cashman in San Francisco with CC — Brian Cashman is meeting with CC Sabathia in the San Francisco area tonight. It was a last-minute meeting, not sure who requested it, but a number of sources have confirmed the meeting to Newsday. — This appears to be a good sign for the Yankees …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
In stagnant market, Sox sit and wait — LAS VEGAS — We just emerged from Theo Epstein's daily briefing, where the Red Sox general manager seemed almost apologetic for the absence of news surrounding the team. — “I actually think I have less to tell you than yesterday,” Epstein said.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Joe McDonald / Providence Journal:
Second Tuesday afternoon update: Epstein says Red Sox ‘value [Buchholz] tremendously’ — LAS VEGAS — If the Texas Rangers want Clay Buchholz, he won't come cheap. — When told this afternoon that Texas team president Nolan Ryan had said he was interested in Buchholz, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein responded: “I'm sure he is.”
Discussion:
WEEI Blogs
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Peavy deal hinges only on Marquis move — Buzz up! — LAS VEGAS - The lone holdup in a deal sending San Diego ace Jake Peavy to the Chicago Cubs is the team's ability to trade starting pitcher Jason Marquis, a source close to the situation said Tuesday night.
Discussion:
San Diego Union-Tribune, MetsBlog.com, ESPN.com, Hot Stove Blog, Blogging Baseball and MLB Rumors
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Chicagosports / Hardball:Cubs close to acquiring Jake Peavy
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Philly.com, MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports, Hot Stove Blog, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, ESPN, MASN Online, Phillies Nation, MLB FanHouse and Hot Foot
John Perrotto / Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times:
Tigers, Dodgers deny interest in Bucs' Wilson — LAS VEGAS — Jack Wilson is not going to be a member of the Detroit Tiger on opening day in 2009 and he also isn't going to be with the Los Angeles Dodgers. — Despite plenty of reports to the contrary, high-ranked officials from both teams …
Discussion:
Raise the Jolly Roger!, Talking Chop, MLB Rumors, PBC Blog and Strike Zone w/ Matthew Pouliot
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Rays met with Giambi — UPDATE, 9:18: Executive VP Andrew Friedman called it “a very good meeting” and said Giambi has “got a lot of the characteristics of a hitter that we like.” He also said he spoke on the phone with a third potential addition, whom he would not name …
Associated Press:
Phillies extend Manuel's contract through 2011 — PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies have picked up the option for 2010 on manager Charlie Manuel's contract and added a guaranteed year for 2011. — General manager Ruben Amaro rewarded Manuel on Tuesday for leading the Phillies …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Meeting with Sheets impressed Girardi — Joe Girardi confirmed that the Yankees met with Ben Sheets and his agent, Casey Close, yesterday. — “I faced Ben Sheets when I was with the Cubs and I've admired the work that he's done over the years. It was good to talk to him about his health, his routines and what he likes to do.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies closing in on deal for Embree — LAS VEGAS — The Rockies are closing in on the pitcher they believe is the right man for their left-handed bullpen vacancy, nearing an agreement with free agent Alan Embree on a one-year deal, according to a major league source familiar with negotiations.
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Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Billy Ripken Obscenity Bat: He Finally Talks 20 Years Later — Had Billy Ripken not received a shipment of less than ideal Louisville Slugger R161 models that year... Had Billy Ripken not decided to use one of those bats for batting practice that year... Had Billy Ripken not elected to mark that bat in a unique way that year...
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Kubek honored with '09 Frick Award — Former Yankee was voice of a generation in NBC broadcast — Tony Kubek, the former New York Yankees shortstop who made even a bigger name for himself in his post-playing career as an analyst on NBC's old “Game of the Week” telecasts …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog
