Top News:
Roch Kubatko / MASN Online:
The Nationals may have taken the lead! — According to multiple sources, the Washington Nationals have sweetened their proposal to first baseman Mark Teixeira, offering him an eight-year deal worth $178 to $184 million. — The Nats were believed to have an eight-year, $160 million offer on the table.
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Sweeny Murti Yankees Blog:
Sweeny Says: Go Get Tex — Yankees@wfan.com — New York, NY (WFAN) — The more I think about it, the more all these calls and e-mails I get are right. The Yankees need to get Mark Teixeira. And here's how I think they can get him. — How does this not make sense for the Yankees?
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Red Sox still in the driver's seat to sign Teixeira — Mark Teixeira told Red Sox owner John Henry the other day that he has offers higher than what the Red Sox offered, but undoubtedly, as Boston gauges the market, club executives now have to have serious doubts about that.
Discussion:
Nationals Journal, Federal Baseball, Boston Globe, MASN Online, Scott Proctor's Arm, iYankees, Newsday and MLB.com
Danny Knobler / CBS SportsLine.com:
Signing Manny over Teixeira makes more sense for Yanks — It's hard to blame the Yankees for going after Mark Teixeira, if only because the one sure way to keep him away from the Red Sox would be for the Yankees to sign him themselves. — But if the Yankees want to upgrade their offense …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Angels withdraw offer to slugger Mark Teixeira
Discussion:
Orange County Register, Blue Notes, Deadspin, MLB Rumors, It is about the money, stupid, Federal Baseball and ESPN
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Yankees not on verge of signing Manny Ramirez — If any of you saw the ImpactoDeportivo.com report that the Yankees are on the verge of signing Manny Ramirez to a three-year, $75-million contract, don't get excited (either good or bad). It's not true. Hal Steinbrenner told me this afternoon, “If we are, I don't know about it.”
Discussion:
iYankees
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Bombers Beat:
Cashman: Manny 3/$75M report “not true” — Just swapped text messages with Brian Cashman, who wrote two words to splash some cold water on the Impacto Deportivo report of Manny Ramirez receiving a three-year, $75 million offer from the Yankees: — “Not true.”
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:PINSTRIPE POSTS
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, River Avenue Blues, Subway Squawkers, iYankees and WasWatching.com
MLB.com:
Yankees sign Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract — The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract for $5 million, avoiding arbitration. — Wang, 28, was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts for the Yankees in 2008 …
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Yahoo! Sports, River Avenue Blues, Pinstripe Alley and YanksBlog.com
Dayn Perry / Fox Sports:
Yankees haven't overtaken BoSox, Rays — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the blog Spolitical, which explores the relationship between sports and politics. He's presently at work on his second book, a biography of Reggie Jackson. — It hasn't been enough.
Associated Press:
Yanks, Orioles prospects dealt drug suspensions — NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees catcher Damian Taveras and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ambiorix Suero were suspended for 50 games each Monday after positive tests for banned performance-enhancing substances under baseball's minor league program.
Discussion:
IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS
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Associated Press:
Furcal denies he reneged Braves — SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Rafael Furcal denies he reneged on a deal with the Atlanta Braves before agreeing to a contract last week with the Los Angeles Dodgers. — “We never gave the nod to the Braves,” he said Sunday after arriving to play winter ball for the Aguilas of Cibaenas.
MLB.com:
Braves announce Minor League coaching staffs for 2009 — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves announced their 2009 Minor League coaching staffs today, including new coaches at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. — The inaugural Gwinnett Braves (AAA) coaching staff will include the return …
Associated Press:
Yankees get $26.9 million tax bill from Selig — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees not only failed to make the playoffs, they were hit with their highest luxury tax in three years. — The Yankees were assessed a $26.9 million tax by the commissioner's office on Monday …
Zell's Pinstripe Blog:
The day I ran into Phil Hughes on a baseball card message board.. — I believe I shared this before on my blog, but I didn't really explain what happened...so here it is: — I am a big collector of sports memorabilia and baseball cards. I was on this trading card forum (Beckett Message Boards) …
Tom Kowalski / MLive.com:
DETROIT LIONS FOOTBALL — Lions' Marinelli won't accept Parker's apology — Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli said today that he wants no part of any type of apology from Detroit News columnist Rob Parker. — After Detroit's 42-7 loss to the Saints on Sunday …
