Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Henry: ‘We are not going to be a factor’ for Teixeira — Red Sox owner John Henry e-mailed several media members late tonight with a stunning twist in the team's pursuit of free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. — Henry's words: “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him.
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WCVB-TV:
Sox May Be Closer To Signing Teixeira — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox may be close to signing Mark Teixeira, the premiere free agent available this off-season. — SportsCenter 5's Mike Lynch reported that team owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein …
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Angels close to re-signing Juan Rivera — Buzz up! — The Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night were nearing agreement with outfielder Juan Rivera on a three-year contract, according to baseball sources. — And as news spread of a meeting between their No. 1 offseason target …
ESPN.com:
Henry: BoSox no factor in Teixeira sweepstakes — Thursday afternoon it looked as if the Boston Red Sox had taken strides toward completing a deal for first baseman Mark Teixeira, major league sources told ESPN.com. — But by Thursday night, Red Sox owner John Henry had sent an email …
Discussion:
PE Angels Baseball, Washington Post, Angels blog, Federal Baseball, Clubhouse Insider, 6-4-2 and WEEI Blogs
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Reports: Sox in Texas meeting on Teixeira — If the latest reports are correct, the Mark Teixeira saga may be nearing a conclusion. — Channel 5 (WCVB-TV) reported that Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Larry Lucchino, and GM Theo Epstein were in Texas tonight to meet with Mark Teixeira's agent …
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Red Sox in lead for Mark Teixeira — Scott Boras, Red Sox meeting confirmed — A source with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations with Mark Teixeira has confirmed that agent Scott Boras is due to meet with Red Sox [team stats] officials tonight in Texas to work toward finalizing an agreement for the free agent first baseman.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Henry: Sox ‘not a factor’ for Teixeira — In a bold move that at one point Thursday appeared to be the beginning of the end of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, Red Sox executives flew all the way to Texas to try to hammer out a contract with the switch-hitting slugger.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Red Sox out of running for Teixeira — After reportedly meeting with agent Boras in Texas, Boston owner says team ‘not going to be a factor’ in e-mail to media — BOSTON - It appears the Boston Red Sox are out of the running for Mark Teixeira. — After several outlets earlier reported …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox still look like front-runners to win the Teixeira Sweepstakes
Red Sox still look like front-runners to win the Teixeira Sweepstakes
Discussion:
Angels blog
Jeff Schultz / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Livid Schuerholz: Furcal dealings ‘despicable’ — Braves' president says team will never do business with player agency again — If Rafael Furcal's decision to renege on a verbal agreement with the Braves was the biggest jolt of the team's dreadful winter, this must be the aftershock.
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Agent dares Braves to boycott his players — Buzz up! — Arn Tellem, lead agent for the Wasserman Media Group, on Thursday evening dared the jilted Atlanta Braves to boycott his players, a heading he said would defy baseball policies as well as national labor laws.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Sabathia and Burnett to Skip World Baseball Classic — While Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez will play in the World Baseball Classic this spring, the Yankees' new starting pitchers almost certainly will not. C. C. Sabathia participated in 2006 but said he was likely to decline his invitation this time.
Discussion:
The Griddle
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JSOnline:
Brewers sign Nixon, Duffy — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Looking for ways to get some left-handed bats on their roster, the Brewers have decided to take a look at former Boston standout Trot Nixon. — The Brewers just announced that they have signed the 34-year-old outfielder …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
2010 MLB Free Agents — By Tim Dierkes [December 18 at 12:53pm CST] — 2010 MLB free agents - MLBTR's up-to-date list is below. These are players who are eligible for free agency after the 2009 season. The player's 2010 age is in parentheses and Scott Boras clients are bolded.
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The Bottom Line
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Lance Niekro launches comeback - as a knuckleballer — (12-18) 22:56 PST — Twenty years have passed since a Niekro threw a knuckleball in a major-league game. Lance Niekro, the longtime Giants infield prospect, now hopes to become the next to keep the family craft alive.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies sign pitcher Rusch to one-year deal — Continuing to address their need for left-handed relievers, the Rockies on Thursday signed Glendon Rusch to a one-year, $750,000 minor-league deal today. — Rusch made it clear he wanted to return to Colorado after enjoying a positive experience last season.