Top News:
Tim Lemke / Washington Times:
Teixeira Announcement Today — A major league baseball source has told The Washington Times' Thom Loverro that there will be an announcement today regarding the future of free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. — While the source declined to discuss specifics, there are strong indications …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Teixeira nears decision, but where will he sign? … At a time when Mark Teixeira's decision about where he wants to sign is seemingly imminent, the Baltimore Orioles' negotiations for the free-agent first baseman appear dormant. The Yankees, on the other hand, continue to review their options …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, The Schmuck Stops Here, MASNsports.com, Oriole Post, Projo Sox Blog and Associated Press
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
For All Boras's Clients but One, There's No Deal — Felipe López is a 28-year-old journeyman second baseman who has a .262 career batting average. Two weeks ago, he quietly signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. — That deal is noteworthy …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Teixeira Announcement Expected Today — By Tim Dierkes [December 23 at 1:32pm CST] — 1:32pm: Heyman now has the Yanks in “deep discussions” with Tex; he says they've stepped up their efforts in recent hours. — 1:02pm: Jon Heyman says the Yankees are still in it - they're “talking seriously with Teixeira's people.”
TwinCities.com:
Charley Walters: A hint of Joe Mauer's next deal could be forthcoming — As the Mark Teixeira free-agent negotiations go, so might go the market for Joe Mauer, who can become a free agent after the 2010 season. — Teixeira, 28, is seeking a deal in excess of $20 million a season.
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.
Brian McNally / www.dcexaminer.com:Race for Teixeira heats up with reports that Nats raise offer
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:Nationals reportedly up the ante for Teixeira
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Associated Press:
Yankees-Cubs bleacher seats to go for 25 cents — NEW YORK — The price of a bleacher seat for the exhibition openers at the new Yankee Stadium will cost far less than a soda. — The Yankees said Tuesday that bleacher seats for the games against the Chicago Cubs on April 3 and 4 will sell …
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates pursue recovering Baldelli — Free-agent outfielder, once a star, has had medical issues — , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates are in pursuit of outfielder Rocco Baldelli, one of the most intriguing — and risky — players available in Major League Baseball's free agency.
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Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Burke re-signed by M's — Mariners catcher Jamie Burke just got an early X-mas present, being re-signed to a minor league contract by the team. This gives him a shot at earning a job in spring training. The Mariners still don't know whether catchers Jeff Clement or Kenji Johjima …
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
Mets' image won't be helped by K-Rod — In the days before the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, Mariano Rivera asked Yankees clubhouse employees for a small but important favor: keep Francisco Rodriguez's temporary locker as far away from his as possible. — It was a stunning request …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Q&A with Dave Studenmund: The Hardball Times Baseball Annual — Dave Studenmund and I broke into the baseball blogosphere at about the same time in 2003. We became fast friends and have provided guest columns for each other's sites or books. As destiny would have it …
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Yankees, Tigers hit with luxury tax — The Yankees' disappointing 2008 season came with a price tag: a $26.9 million luxury tax bill they were handed on Monday by the Commissioner's Office. — The 2008 payroll threshold for luxury-tax liability was $155 million.
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Markakis turns down offer to play in World Baseball Classic — O's outfielder honored by invitation but declines due to family concerns — Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis said today that he has turned down an offer to play for the United States in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, which begins in March.
Discussion:
The Schmuck Stops Here
