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:
Mets Fever, MLB Rumors, Angels blog, River Avenue Blues, YFSF, Over the Monster and iYankees
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox still look like front-runners to win the Teixeira Sweepstakes … With perhaps only days to go, many baseball executives seem to believe the Red Sox have the best chance to sign Mark Teixeira. — “I think he's going to the Red Sox. You think he's going there.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Source: No offers from Yanks to Manny, Teixeira
Source: No offers from Yanks to Manny, Teixeira
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Baltimore Sun, MLB FanHouse, WEEI Blogs, MLB Rumors, Scott Proctor's Arm and Boston Herald
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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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox look like front-runners for Teixeira (cont.) — Furcal's unusual double play — The Braves thought they had a “gentleman's agreement” on a deal for Rafael Furcal for $30 million and three years and are said to be “frustrated” that he went to the Dodgers for the same terms after they say his agent agreed with them.
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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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
A Look At The 2010 Free Agent Class — By Tim Dierkes [December 18 at 1:19pm CST] — Since it's more of a reference, I didn't allow comments on our 2010 MLB Free Agents post. This post will be the place for readers to comment on these players, who we'll be talking about constantly a year from now …
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.
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com
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George A. King III / New York Post:
LITTLE MANNY CHATTER
LITTLE MANNY CHATTER
Discussion:
JSOnline, NJ.com, MLB FanHouse, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Bats, New Jersey Online, Angels blog and Yankees Blog
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, Bucs Dugout, NorthJersey.com, Walkoff Walk, Mets Merized Online, New York Times and MetsBlog.com
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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
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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
NY Daily News:
Rocket's lawsuit takes a hit — Authorities told trainer Brian McNamee that he could become the target of a criminal probe if he refused to cooperate with former Sen. George Mitchell's steroid investigation, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Houston Thursday by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Parrella.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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.
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.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Crasnick: Job market for Abreu — Bobby Abreu's overall stats suggest he's a “star,” but he's often viewed as a complementary-type player. And thus, landing a job at his desired salary this offseason could prove to be difficult. Jerry Crasnick — • Watch: Buster Olney talks about the latest Hot Stove developments