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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 …
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CBS SportsLine.com, Sports Illustrated, The Bronx Block, Sliding Into Home and MLB FanHouse
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 …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, Projo Sox Blog, A Red Sox Fan …, WBZ-TV and Hot Foot
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” …
George A. King III / New York Post:TEIXEIRA TOO RICH FOR SAWX
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Bottom9 Baseball, Surviving Grady, Boston Globe, The Schmuck Stops Here and Angels blog
Thomas Boswell / Baseball Insider:Teixeira — Plenty of Nationals fans are scratching their heads …
Discussion:
Nationals Journal
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Red Sox say they won't be a factor for Mark Teixeira
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Federal Baseball
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:Henry: ‘We are not going to be a factor’ for Teixeira
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MLB.com, Baseball Insider, Pinstripes, Pa., Nationals Journal, The Big Lead, Jorge Says No!, Hardball Times, The Bottom Line, MetsBlog.com, Clubhouse Insider, Bottom9 Baseball, Over the Monster, It is about the money, stupid, Fire Brand of the …, PE.com, Oriole Post, Oriole Magic, SOX & Dawgs, Washington Post, Oleanders and Morning Glories, The Yankee Scrolls and River Avenue Blues
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Norton signs one-year deal with Braves — Top-notch pinch-hitter will return to Atlanta in 2009 to help off bench — ATLANTA — After proving to be one of Major League Baseball's top pinch-hitters last year, Greg Norton proved valuable enough to earn a return to the Braves.
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Gerut, Padres avoid salary arbitration — A pleasant surprise in '08, outfielder signs one-year contract — SAN DIEGO — Center fielder Jody Gerut, one of the bright spots for the Padres last season, agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.1775 million on Friday, thus avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Gerut staying with Padres, Norton with Braves … SAN DIEGO (AP) — Outfielder Jody Gerut agreed Friday with the San Diego Padres on a one-year contract worth $1,775,000. — The 31-year-old hit .296 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 100 games for the Padres last season — his first in the big leagues since 2005.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Crosby clears outright waivers — Shortstop appears headed to Spring Training as A's starter — Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby has cleared outright waivers, keeping the 28-year-old in Oakland — for now, at least. — The waiver period expired at 10 a.m. PT on Friday …
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.
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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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Rivera agrees with Angels on three-year deal … Free agent outfielder Juan Rivera is returning to the Los Angeles Angels on a three-year contract, the team announced Friday. — Rivera, 30, is a career .284 hitter with 72 homers in eight seasons with the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos and the Angels.
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:Angels close to re-signing Juan Rivera
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Fox Sports, MetsBlog.com, Philliesflow.com, Associated Press, 6-4-2, Mets Fever and Angels blog
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.
Sam Mellinger / Kansas City Star:
The retro jock: Royals pitcher has offseason job as a laborer — You might think professional athletes have become spoiled. Might think the money and the fans and the hype have all conspired to strip them of their humility or sever any connection between them and regular fans.
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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