Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
General feeling is Sox — They're perceived leaders on Teixeira — One of the general managers involved in the Mark Teixeira negotiations was asked last night, “Are you still in it?” He answered, “I honestly don't know.” — Evidently, Teixeira's final landing spot has become a mystery to some of the people involved.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Boston Herald, Angels blog, YFSF, River Avenue Blues, Over the Monster and iYankees
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Source: No offers from Yanks to Manny, Teixeira — Speculation to the contrary, the Yankees are not “all in” on Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira. — The Yankees have not ruled out adding Ramirez or Teixeira, but they have yet to make an offer to either slugger.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Melvin: Cameron-Yanks deal is ‘dead’ — Brewers GM uncertain if he'd be interested if talks were to resume — MILWAUKEE — As Brewers general manager Doug Melvin sees it, his trade talks with the Yankees are “dead.” — “It's probably not going to happen,” Melvin said.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
LITTLE MANNY CHATTER
LITTLE MANNY CHATTER
Discussion:
JSOnline, MLB FanHouse, NJ.com, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Bats, New Jersey Online, Angels blog and Yankees Blog
Sabernomics:
On Frank Wren — With the collapse of the Furcal-to-Atlanta deal, Frank Wren has been getting a lot of criticism. I'm not sure it's warranted, but I think now is a good time to pass along a few thoughts related to the Braves GM. — I heard Frank Wren on the the radio this morning …
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers, Furcal agree on 3-year deal
Dodgers, Furcal agree on 3-year deal
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, The Knobler Blog, Dodger Thoughts, Inside the Dodgers, New York Post and True Blue LA
ESPN:
Sources: Furcal re-signs with Dodgers for $30M
Sources: Furcal re-signs with Dodgers for $30M
Discussion:
6-4-2, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., whygavs.com, Yahoo! Sports and Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Furcal says no to Braves, returns to Dodgers
Furcal says no to Braves, returns to Dodgers
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Boone signs one-year deal with Astros — Veteran infielder likely to platoon with Blum at third base — HOUSTON — The Astros on Thursday signed third baseman Aaron Boone to a one-year contract, pending a physical. — Boone fills the Astros' need for a utility infielder who has extensive experience at third.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
K-ROD, PUTZ WILL BOTH GET CHANCES — Jerry Manuel is putting the egos of his two new All-Star relievers to the test next season. — The Mets manager revealed yesterday that Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz will share the closing duties next season, a plan that could cause fireworks because of the personalities involved.
Discussion:
Mets Blog, Newsday, Walkoff Walk, NorthJersey.com, Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com and New York Times
Nick Willhite / Los Angeles Times:
Nick Willhite dies at 67; former pitcher for the Dodgers and Angels — Pitcher for Dodgers — Nick Willhite, 67, a left-handed pitcher whose five-year baseball career was highlighted by the shutout he threw in his debut with the Dodgers in 1963, died of cancer Sunday at a son's home in Alpine, Utah.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Mets Are ‘Not for Sale, Not a Piece of It’ — After the Mets introduced Francisco Rodríguez as their $37 million closer Wednesday, team executives posed for pictures with him. Jeff Wilpon, the chief operating officer, smiled for the cameras. He has not done much of that lately.
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Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' signing of catcher Matt Treanor should be announced soon — The Tigers are expected to announce in the coming days that they have agreed to a one-year contract with backup catcher Matt Treanor. — One person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday night that the sides …
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.
Associated Press:
Dave Smith remembered for generosity — SAN DIEGO — Dave Smith, a former All-Star closer who holds the Houston Astros record for games pitched, died Wednesday. He was 53. — Former big leaguer Tim Flannery said Smith apparently died of a heart attack, but the official cause of death wasn't known.
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William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
Sabathia Offers Yanks What Money Can't Buy — In a bizarre spectacle of arrogance and denial, the Mets and the Yankees are hosting back-to-back introductions for their multimillion-dollar pitchers this week. — Even as the nation continues to reel from the effect of economic body blows …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Towers is assessing potential options to shore up team's middle infield — Veteran middle infielders Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein and Mark Grudzielanek are on the Padres' radar to varying degrees, General Manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday, but it's still early.
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Agent says Tigers have called about reliever Derrick Turnbow — The agent for reliever Derrick Turnbow said interest in his client has increased since last week's winter meetings. And the Tigers have had something to do with that. — Damon Lapa said Wednesday that a Tigers official called …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Doumit deal nearly done, McLouth's nearly ‘dead’ — Pirates' multiyear contract offers take widely divergent paths — The Pirates are on the verge of signing catcher Ryan Doumit to a multiyear extension, and it could happen within the week, according to a source directly involved in the negotiations.