Top News:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers, Furcal agree on 3-year deal — Physical all that stands in way of shortstop staying in Los Angeles — LOS ANGELES — The winding road of free agency has led shortstop Rafael Furcal right back to the Dodgers. — A baseball official confirmed Wednesday that Furcal has reached agreement …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Furcal says no to Braves, returns to Dodgers — Braves GM Wren: ‘I think you have to be upset with the turn of events’ — The Braves' winter of discontent continued Wednesday, when shortstop Rafael Furcal reached a contract agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers — two days after the Braves said they had an agreement with Furcal.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Furcal is nearing a deal with the Dodgers — Buzz up! — At the end of a couple of curious days, during which Rafael Furcal reportedly agreed to sign with the Atlanta Braves, then resumed negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers (depending on one's perspective), the free-agent shortstop …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Furcal matter handled smoothly, eh? — I'm at least as tired as most of you of waiting for Rafael Furcal and his agent to tell us something, so I'm resorting to the one guaranteed way to get an answer quickly - by writing a new blog about how tedious this whole thing has become.
Los Angeles Times:Dodgers and Rafael Furcal: Is there still a chance?
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Sources: Orioles fall behind in Teixeira derby … Unless Mark Teixeira is willing to give the Orioles a major hometown discount, it does not appear he will be playing in Baltimore. — The Orioles have stood by their initial offer and have not upgraded it, and sources say that the other teams involved …
RELATED:
Baltimore Sun:
MacPhail: ‘We have flexibility’ on Teixeira offer — Coverage of the Orioles' affiliates and other minor league news — Looking back at the players, fans and games that shaped the run to the Orioles' last World Series title. — Features — Buy Tickets — Featured Video Advertisers
Ken Bell / WLNE-TV:
Family says doctors misdiagnosed Rocco Baldelli's condition — GREAT NEWS FOR ROCCO BALDELLI. A VISIT TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC LAST WEEK REVEALED THAT DOCTORS HAD MISDIAGNOSED HIS ILLNESS. — BALDELLI MISSED MUCH OF LAST SEASON, AND WHEN HE DID PLAY, HE WAS LIMITED BECAUSE OF EXTREME FATIQUE.
Discussion:
medterms.com, The Heater, Walkoff Walk, Seattle Mariners, Bluebird Banter, A Red Sox Fan …, DRaysBay and WEEI Blogs
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:Baldelli: “An encouraging development”
Discussion:
The Griddle, Over the Monster, WEEI Blogs, Bleeding Blue and Teal, Rays Index and DRaysBay
KNSD-TV:
Alleged Beating by Padre Caught on Tape — A videotape released Tuesday shows San Diego Padre Brian Giles allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend in an Arizona bar. — Giles isn't commenting on a civil lawsuit filed against the Padres star outfielder. He is accused of verbally …
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Cameron-Cabrera talks off — It sounds as though the Yankees will not be getting Mike Cameron to play centerfield next year. That could change, of course, but I just got off the phone with Brewers GM Doug Melvin. He said: “Nothing new. At this point, I don't anticipate it's something that we would (do). ...
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Sabathia visits new Yankee Stadium — The Yankees have passed along these photos of new pitcher CC Sabathia touring the new Yankee Stadium.
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Pirates on lookout for bullpen help — Bootcheck, King among Pittsburgh's targets this offseason — PITTSBURGH — They won't be the highest profile of names, but there are a number of relievers that Pirates general manager Neal Huntington continues to pursue as he looks to add to his bullpen options for 2009.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Curt Schilling Archive:
Why Boston Might Be Best — I often hear media members and sports ‘experts’ this time of year discussing the ‘details’ on free agents. Everything from ‘close friend says’ to ‘his choice is to live in’ and I wonder just how much you believe, and what you think they really know.
Discussion:
Angels blog
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets anticipate lull in roster revisions — Club hopes to complete moves by Feb., but is being patient — NEW YORK — Not until Groundhog Day did the Mets complete the transaction that made their 2008 season as successful as it turned out to be — the acquisition of Johan Santana.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Mets: Losses from Ponzi scam won't affect team … NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff Wilpon's phone rang last Thursday and his father was on the line. — “He said, ‘Bernie was arrested by the FBI.’ I'm like, ‘No way,”’ the New York Mets chief operating officer recalled Wednesday.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates Q&A: Not playing the market — Click here to submit question. — We have Qs ... Q: Is it smart for the Pirates to be avoiding free agents and targeting prospects? — In honor of ‘Moneyball’ and its premise that teams like the A's (and Pirates) need to take advantage of the market …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Sandberg to manage in Double-A — Hall of Famer promoted to Tennessee as Cubs shuffle Minors staffs — CHICAGO — Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is moving up in the Cubs' Minor League system. — Sandberg, who has spent the past two seasons as the skipper for the Class A Peoria Chiefs …
