Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Former major league pitcher Dock Ellis dies — Dock Ellis, the former major league pitcher best remembered for his flamboyance and social activism as a member of the great Pittsburgh Pirates teams of the 1970s, died Friday of a liver ailment in California, his former agent, Tom Reich, confirmed.
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Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Dock Ellis, All-Star Pitcher Who Overcame Longtime Addictions, Dies at 63 — Dock Ellis, a leading pitcher for pennant-winning teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees despite a long addiction to drugs and alcohol, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 63.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Former Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis dies at 63 — Dock Ellis, who infamously claimed he pitched a no-hitter for Pittsburgh under the influence of LSD and later fiercely spoke out against drug and alcohol addiction, died yesterday at the age of 63. — Ellis died in California from a liver ailment, former agent Tom Reich said.
Peter Gammons / ESPN:
Trying to make sense of Teixeira dealings — It has been suggested that the best way to decipher the Red Sox-Mark Teixeira negotiations is to pull out your old turntable, put on “Revolution 9” from the Beatles' “White Album” and play it backward. Then you will know what's been offered and what's been requested.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:Are Teixeira negotiations numbered?
Discussion:
MASN Online, New York Times, Providence Journal, WEEI Blogs, MLB Rumors, SOX & Dawgs and Nationals Journal
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats, Cabrera agree to one-year deal — Right-hander to be newest member of Washington's rotation — WASHINGTON — The Nationals and right-hander Daniel Cabrera have agreed to a one-year contract, pending a physical, according to three baseball sources. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Giambi could return to the Bay in 2009 — Slugger's agent reportedly speaking with Oakland GM — Free agent designated hitter Jason Giambi could be headed back to Oakland after a seven-year stint with the Yankees. — According to a San Francisco Chronicle report published on Saturday …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Jays Listening On Wells — By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 20 at 8:58am CST] — Jon Heyman has heard that the Blue Jays “have fielded a few trade inquiries” about Vernon Wells, though they are not shopping him. Wells has six years and over $100MM remaining on his contract.
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim win case to keep name — State appellate court rules in favor of the team in suit brought by Anaheim. City is not expected to appeal to state Supreme Court. — The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim can keep their name after all.
Discussion:
AwfulAnnouncing
Kambrothers / Blue Notes:
Clayton Kershaw: The lost interview — Okay, not so much lost, but forgotten for about ten days or so. I sat down with Kershaw early last week when the Dodgers had some of their young 'uns working out at the Ravine. Fortunately, the interview is, as they say in journalism parlance, evergreen.
Dan Rosenheck / New York Times:
Baseball Hall of Fame Needs to Change 5 Percent Rule — Hall of Fame voters are a fickle bunch. Neither Jim Rice nor Bert Blyleven has done anything to bolster his candidacy for enshrinement in Cooperstown since retiring. Yet their shares of the vote have increased to 72.2 percent …
New York Post:
DAMON USES RECRUITING ACUMEN TO HELP BUILD A CHAMPION — Johnny Damon made recruiting calls to A.J. Burnett. His wife, Michelle, helped out in the CC Sabathia chase by texting CC's wife, Amber, answering questions so that the Northern California-based Sabathia family could feel at home in New York.
Associated Press:
Sabathia to get $9.5 million from Yankees before season opener — NEW YORK — CC Sabathia will receive $9.5 million from the New York Yankees before he throws his first official pitch in pinstripes. — His $161 million, seven-year contract includes a $9 million signing bonus …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Relief effort over, Mets must finalize starters — After introducing their new bullpen stalwarts this week, the Mets will fully turn their attention to filling in the holes in their starting rotation. — GM Omar Minaya likely will have to remain patient with the Mets' top choices to round …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
