Top News:
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Yankees Keep Eye on Teixeira and Wait — Although the Yankees have not actively pursued the free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, team officials continue to monitor the negotiations between Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, and other teams. — The Yankees are interested in signing Teixeira …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Manny can see Yank pitch — Only the Yankees know how far they'll be willing to go to sign Manny Ramirez, but the slugger believes the Bombers will be a serious contender for his services. — According to a source, Ramirez has told friends that he is confident the Yankees will offer …
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Creating a Market — Scott Boras called the Yankees about Mark Teixeira: … This could be an interesting game of passive chicken between the Yankees and Red Sox. With neither of them bidding at this point, the Nationals and Angels can keep their prices low (if $20 million a year is low).
Discussion:
YFSF
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yankees on fringes of Teixeira talks — Despite agent Scott Boras' efforts to get the Yankees involved in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, the Yankees remain on the periphery of the bidding, sources said yesterday. — Early yesterday, SI.com's Jon Heyman reported that in the wake …
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Boras calls Yankees on Teixeira — So the Yankees talked to Scott Boras Friday about Mark Teixeira, as I first learned by reading Jon Heyman's story on SI.com. But what I learned yesterday from talking to multiple sources is that Boras reached out to the Yankees.
New York Post:
WITH SAWX STEPPING ASIDE, BOMBERS MAKE SMART PLAY — NOW that the Red Sox have frozen their Mark Teixeira assets in the high- stakes poker game with super-agent Scott Boras, it creates an opening for the Yankees. — The Yankees are in this game, make no mistake.
External / ESPN:
Olney: Market forces at work — Brian Fuentes began the offseason as, theoretically, the most second-most coveted reliever, after a season in which he earned 30 saves and accumulated a 2.73 ERA, and held left-handed batters to a .184 average, with 20 strikeouts in 49 at-bats.
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.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Outlook positive for Tampa Bay Rays to sign a good free-agent hitter — The Rays remain “cautiously optimistic” they'll be able to get the kind of big bat they crave for the middle of their lineup, and there are a couple of reasons they feel that way. — One is that the market …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
CASE OF THE TAINTED TERM SHEET — This column was going to be about the number of shortstops available as free agents this winter, among the better known Edgar Renteria, Orlando Cabrera, David Eckstein, Omar Vizquel, Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal, Adam Everett, Cesar Izturis.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
It's the offseason of hope — Ability to play again would be perfect gift — Rocco Baldelli might not be out of the woods, but after further evaluation at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic he at least has hope that the mitochondrial disorder that nearly ruined …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Catching up on some Winter League stats — A few winter league observations: — Ian Kennedy is back home after pitching 34.2 innings over six starts in Puerto Rico. He went 2-2 with a 1.56 ERA. He allowed 19 hits, struck out 31, walked 12 and allowed one home run.
NY Daily News:
Editor's Picks — A source says Manny Ramirez has told friends he expects at least a three-year offer from the Yankees. — Madden: Scott Boras is going to drag out Teixeira's negotiations as long as he can, to wear out a gullible suitor for every penny. — A horrific wreck …
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Jay / The Futility Infielder:
The Dock Is Out: Dock Ellis (1945-2008) … Pre-empting my posting of the first two articles of my Hall of Fame JAWS series here, the Futility Infielder home office flag will be at half staff for the remainder of the holiday season due to the passing of Dock Ellis.
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Richard Goldstein / New York Times:Dock Ellis, All-Star Pitcher Who Overcame Longtime Addictions, Dies at 63
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
