Top News:
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.
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MLB FanHouse
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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 …
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.
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 …
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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
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Source sees Yankees' pursuit of Manny Ramirez as front office splits — Are the Yankees preparing to give Manny Ramirez a happy homecoming? — The pride of Washington Heights remains one of the biggest names left on the free-agent market, and while it may take some time before the future Hall …
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Boston Herald, Hardball, Pinstripe Alley, MLB FanHouse, MLB Rumors, Bottom9 Baseball, MLB.com, River Avenue Blues, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bugs & Cranks, Hardball Times, New Jersey Online, Yahoo! Sports, NJ.com, Deadspin, Pinstriped Scranton, Respect Jeter's Gangster, WasWatching.com, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Sliding Into Home, Red Sox Monster, It is about the money, stupid, JSOnline, bronxbanterblog.com, Scott Proctor's Arm and iYankees
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Baldelli: “An encouraging development” — Free agent OF Rocco Baldelli clarified the Rhode Island TV reports this morning, saying there has been an updated diagnosis that is “an encouraging development” and with adjustments to his current medication he hopes “to be on the field on a much more regular basis.”
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The Griddle, Over the Monster, WEEI Blogs, Bleeding Blue and Teal, Rays Index and DRaysBay
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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). ...
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.
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MLB Rumors
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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
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Former Astro Smith dies of heart attack — Two-time All-Star reliever was on three Houston playoff teams — HOUSTON — Dave Smith, an Astros reliever from 1980-90 and a member of all three Houston playoff teams in the 1980s, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 53.
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
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Reliever Nelson has several suitors — Agent says he's fielded inquiries from 19 teams for setup man — MIAMI — On the open market, Joe Nelson is attracting plenty of attention. — Non-tendered by the Marlins last Friday, Nelson's agent, Doug Schaer, has fielded inquiries from 19 teams.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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 …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Orlando Cabrera A Long Shot For A's — By Tim Dierkes [December 17 at 9:03am CST] — According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A's only have interest in free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera if he can be had as a late bargain. Despite the twists and turns …
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Arin It Out
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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.