Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
The Schmuck Stops Here, Oriole Post, MLB FanHouse, MASN Online, Nationals Journal, The Bronx Block, Projo Sox Blog and Boston Herald
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
Hardball, MLB FanHouse, River Avenue Blues, NJ.com, Pinstripe Alley, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bugs & Cranks, Bottom9 Baseball, Deadspin, Pinstriped Scranton, Yahoo! Sports, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Hardball Times, Red Sox Monster, BASEBALL HOT CORNER, Sliding Into Home, It is about the money, stupid, bronxbanterblog.com, WasWatching.com, JSOnline, New Jersey Online, Scott Proctor's Arm, iYankees and MLB.com
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Mark Teixeira's not a 10 — Sox' attraction limited in years — As the bidding intensifies for free agent Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox [team stats] have let it be known they are willing to go only so far. Should another team up the ante and, as has been speculated, offer a 10-year deal …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Opposing GM: Sox in lead for Teixeira — A general manager of one of the five teams involved in the Mark Teixeira talks said this morning that in his opinion, if the talks ended right now, Boston would land the coveted free agent first baseman. — “I think they're in the lead and ahead …
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 …
Discussion:
The Knobler Blog, New York Post, Blue Collar Baseball, True Blue LA, Los Angeles Times, MLB Rumors and Redleg Nation
RELATED:
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers and Rafael Furcal: Is there still a chance?
Dodgers and Rafael Furcal: Is there still a chance?
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
With Furcal out of the picture, A's might turn back to Crosby
With Furcal out of the picture, A's might turn back to Crosby
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Furcal matter handled smoothly, eh?
Furcal matter handled smoothly, eh?
Discussion:
Associated Press
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:
The Heater, Walkoff Walk, Seattle Mariners, Rays Index, MLB Rumors, Bluebird Banter, A Red Sox Fan …, River Avenue Blues, WEEI Blogs and DRaysBay
RELATED:
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.”
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 …
RELATED:
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:
Baltimore Sun:
MacPhail: ‘We have flexibility’ on Teixeira offer — O's president says club could alter initial proposal, negotiations ongoing — O's president says club could alter initial proposal, negotiations ongoing with free-agent slugger Poll: Will the O's land Teixeira?
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). ...
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Associated Press:
Mets COO says team not for sale despite losses … NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets say the money lost by their ownership group in Bernard Madoff's alleged Ponzi scam will not affect team operations. — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon says some individual partners lost money.
Juan Gonzalez / NY Daily News:
How city went to bat for Yanks in tax ripoff — Mayor Bloomberg's aides secretly pressured city tax assessors to inflate the value of land under the new Yankee Stadium so the team could qualify for nearly $1 billion in tax-free bonds, city e-mails show. — In March 2006, the city's chief …
Kevin Goldstein / Unfiltered:
Aloha, Hawaii Winter Baseball — Unfortunately, this time aloha means goodbye. I got some indication that this was coming during my time in Las Vegas, but today the hammer finally came down as the general managers voted to consolidate off-season leagues to Arizona, thus ending the three-year return of the Hawaiian League.