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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: Sheets, Teixeira and Lowe — Hey, checking in from vacation again (sorry, honey). I will be completing my week of co-hosting The Show today from 3-6 p.m. on XM 175 or Sirius 210 in case anyone would like to listen. — 1. Keep hearing from multiple sources that the Yankees will have nothing to do with Ben Sheets.
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ESPN:
Red Sox aren't necessarily out of Teixeira talks … Red Sox executives flew to Texas on Thursday believing they were close enough in negotiations to complete a deal with Mark Teixeira. But after they arrived, they were informed that their offer to Teixeira — something in the range …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Is it really over for Red Sox and Teixeira? — ANALYSIS — If the Red Sox have pulled out of the Mark Teixeira talks for good, it would be a stunner to a lot of baseball people. — Of the people I've talked to this morning regarding John Henry's e-mail in which he said it seems that Boston …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Sources: BoSox still in Teixeira hunt … The Red Sox haven't given up on the idea of signing Mark Teixeira, according to multiple baseball sources. — They are just taking a break from the bidding. — Though Boston's chances to land the multitalented free-agent slugger may have diminished slightly …
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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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George A. King III / New York Post:
TEIXEIRA TOO RICH FOR SAWX — The Red Sox say they got outbid for free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. — Though Boston didn't talk about which teams offered more for the switch-hitting Teixeira, it wasn't the Yankees. — “Not us,” GM Brian Cashman told The Post late last night.
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Alex Speier / Archive:
For Red Sox and Teixeira, Sound and Fury Signify Bluffing — On one point, at least, the Red Sox are not bluffing. — The team may or may not still be in the running for Mark Teixeira. Though Sox owner John Henry emailed a statement that the Sox “are not going to be a factor” …
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Red Sox fall out of Teixeira talks — Henry: ‘We are not going to be a factor’ — Red Sox owner John Henry issued a stunning proclamation late last night regarding the team's pursuit of free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, all but ruling out Boston's chance to land the prize hitter of baseball's offseason.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:Angels close to re-signing Juan Rivera
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JSOnline:
Yankees finally call back — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — I talked with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin a little while ago and he said Yankees GM Brian Cashman finally called back today after days of silence prompted Melvin to remove centerfielder Mike Cameron from trade consideration yesterday.
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Adam Rubin / Baseball America:
New York Mets — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Tim Ott / MLB.com:
Season's finest claim TYIB Awards — Superstars Pujols, Lincecum, Lidge among fan favorites for 2008 — Once again, the fans spoke loudly when given the chance to weigh in on this past season's best players, plays and moments in the This Year in Baseball Awards.
ESPN:
Braves won't deal with Furcal's agents again — The Atlanta Braves aren't done complaining about the way they felt they were treated by the Wasserman Media Group, the firm representing free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. — They are, however, apparently done doing business with them.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Braves Won't Be Dealing With Kinzer, Tellem
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Wilson: Pirates need ‘more players’ to compete — Shortstop urges management to practice accountability it preaches — Jack Wilson, sounding convinced he will return as the Pirates' shortstop next year, yesterday urged management to bolster the 2009 roster and heed its own call for accountability.
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.
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