Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKS TO GO AFTER MANNY, TEIXEIRA — According to several baseball officials, the Yankees remain in the Mark Teixeira hunt. But the same connected voices insist if the Yankees don't land the switch-hitting first baseman, they will turn their money toward controversial slugger Manny Ramirez.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
CC ARRIVES TOMORROW — The plan is for CC Sabathia to arrive in town tomorrow night, take a physical Tuesday and possibly be introduced as the Yankees' $161 million savior by Wednesday. — Expect A.J. Burnett to follow after his $82.5 million deal is official.
Discussion:
JSOnline, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Pinstripes, Pa., Scott Proctor's Arm, iYankees and Mike Silva's NY Baseball …
Nat Boyle / MLB Rumors:
Rosenthal's Latest: Yankees, Teixeira, Bradley, Furcal — By Nat Boyle [December 14 at 12:08pm CST] — Ken Rosenthal has his latest article up. Let's go through it. — Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees are aiming to keep their payroll lower than last season.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Yanks improve rotation, keep young talent — The winter obsession last year was Johan Santana — and the Yankees or the Red Sox could have had him. They could have traded for the accomplished left-hander who was about to turn 29. But what folks in both front offices decided was that the double-barreled cost was prohibitive.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Beware of warning signs — Yankees, Mets must avoid Tiger scenario — Oddsmakers, fans, and legions of experts declared the Detroit Tigers favorites to win the World Series after they pulled off an eight-player deal at the 2007 winter meetings in which they acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Shooting from the Lip: Yank their checkbook
Shooting from the Lip: Yank their checkbook
Discussion:
Rivera's Cutter
Steve DeClue / Examiner:
Teixeira to attend Ravens game — Free agent first baseman and Severna Park native Mark Teixeira will be a guest of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos at today's Ravens-Steelers game, according to ESPN. — Orioles fans have been desperate for any sign of hope with the organization …
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Peter Schmuck / The Schmuck Stops Here:
Teixeira rumor control — There's a rumor flying around that Mark Teixeira is in the Baltimore area and will attend the Ravens game today as a guest of Peter Angelos. This would be very nice if it was true, but I can't confirm it and I have serious doubts.
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Francisco Rodriguez from the mountain top — CARACAS, Venezuela - The harrowing series of switchbacks snakes upward, winding past secluded mansions in the Alta Hatillo section of Caracas, a scene that could be straight out of the HBO hit show “Entourage.” — High up in these hills …
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Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Okajima completes 6-hour Honolulu Marathon — It really is a marathon, not a sprint. — Under rainy and wet conditions, Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima completed today's Honolulu Marathon in 6:10:26 (gun time). — Okajima, who turns 33 on Christmas Day, was among 23,000 runners …
Newsday:
Mets should consider a reunion with Wigginton — Wow, what a week in Las Vegas that turned out to be. If we had been there any longer, the Mets might have signed Trevor Hoffman to be their seventh-inning reliever and the Yankees, in the interest of making CC Sabathia more comfortable …
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Farnsworth, Royals agree to deal — Two-year, $9.25 million contract includes club option for 2011 — The Royals' bullpen now has its hard-throwing right-hander. — Kansas City announced on Saturday that it had agreed to terms with Kyle Farnsworth on a two-year, $9.25 million deal that includes a club option for 2011.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Many big bats remain available for Tampa Bay Rays — Leaving Las Vegas, the Rays felt pretty good about their chances to add a big-name big bat to their lineup. They have reason to feel even better now that Raul Ibanez has agreed to a reported three-year, $30-million deal with the Phillies.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Cashman paying the price — Out of sheer desperation, Brian Cashman has had to go back to the free-agent pitching well, where he hasn't fared too well as Yankee GM. He should only hope now that $161 million over seven years for CC Sabathia and $82.5 million over five years …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Nelson keeping his options open — Reliever a free agent after not being tendered by Marlins — MIAMI — Even though the Marlins didn't tender reliever Joe Nelson a contract on Friday, the team did leave the door open for a possible return. — Shortly after the non-tender deadline passed …
Patrick / NPB Tracker:
Free Agency Watch: Kawakami, Takahashi, Saito — Today's free agency updates... - According to Nikkan Sports, Boston is preparing a 3-year, $7m deal for Kenshin Kawakami. Not an official offer yet, but the numbers sound right. Sponichi has the Braves and Brewers also getting in on Kawakami.
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide, Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, Mets Fever, MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Whither Smoltz? Who is Kawakami?
Whither Smoltz? Who is Kawakami?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors