Top News:
ESPN.com:
Cubs deal versatile DeRosa to Indians — CLEVELAND — Mark DeRosa, who had been rumored to be a part of three- and four-team scenarios in the Jake Peavy trade talks is finally headed out of Chicago — but not in a deal for the San Diego Padres' ace. — DeRosa has been traded to the Cleveland Indians for three players.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs acquire versatile infielder Miles — The Cubs agreed to terms with versatile free agent infielder Aaron Miles on a two-year, $4.9 million contract, adding important depth to the middle infield. — Miles, a switch-hitter who spent the past three seasons with St. Louis …
MLB.com:
Cubs, infielder Aaron Miles agree to two-year contract — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and infielder Aaron Miles today agreed to terms on a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. — “We expect Aaron to provide significant versatility and flexibility to our roster,” said Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry.
ESPN:
Aaron Miles Signs Two-Year Contract with Cubs — ESPN 1000 is first to report that infielder Aaron Miles has signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. This could be another transaction by Jim Hendry to setup two or three more moves in attempt to solidify his team in 2009.
ESPN.com:
Angels, closer Fuentes agree to two-year deal — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels might have found their new closer. — The Angels and left-hander Brian Fuentes agreed to a two-year, $17.5 million contract. The contract includes a club option for the 2011 season.
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MLB.com:
Angels agree to terms on two-year contract with free-agent left-handed pitcher Brian Fuentes — Contract includes club option For 2011 — ANAHEIM, CA — The Angels Wednesday agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free agent left-handed pitcher Brian Fuentes. The contract includes a club option for the 2011 season.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Angels Sign Brian Fuentes — By Tim Dierkes [December 31 at 12:46pm CST] — 12:46pm: Olney has the financials: it's a two-year, $17.5MM deal. $8.5MM in '09, $9MM in '10, and a $9MM vesting option for '11 based on games finished. — 12:08pm: According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Brian Fuentes signed a two-year deal with the Angels.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mets playing Lowe ball — More and more it seems it will only be a matter of time before the Mets sign Derek Lowe, the starting pitcher they targeted going into the offseason. — Lowe recently told a friend that the Red Sox, who signed Brad Penny to a one-year deal this week …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, FakeTeams, Sliding Into Home, Pinstriped Scranton and iYankees
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
REPORT: METS OFFER LOWE $36M — The Mets are moving along negotiations with Derek Lowe, reportedly with a three-year offer in the $36 million range for the free-agent pitcher. — That isn't nearly in line with the four-or five-year deal at around $15 million per season that Lowe's agent …
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
O's, Hendrickson agree to one-year, $1.5M deal — Veteran left-hander has a 50-63 record and 5.07 ERA in seven seasons — The Orioles officially added a veteran pitcher to their 40-man roster today, announcing that lefty Mark Hendrickson passed his physical and has agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rox add former utilityman Luis Gonzalez to bench mix — Among improvements general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle identified as necessary for the 2009 Rockies: a better reserve clause. — Colorado has added an interesting candidate to the bench mix, bringing …
Discussion:
Baseball Digest Daily Blog
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Associated Press:
Waxman satisfied with answers from MLB, union — WASHINGTON (AP) — The House panel that had follow-up questions for baseball about its drug-testing program is satisfied with the sport's answers. — Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Tom Davis, R-Va., leaders of the House Committee …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Dylan Hernandez / LA Times Sports Blog:
Dodgers sign pitcher Claudio Vargas — The Dodgers may have found a pitcher who could take a spot in the back end of their rotation, signing right-hander Claudio Vargas to an incentive-laden, one-year deal. — Vargas will be paid a base salary of $400,000 and can earn an additional $1.4 million in incentives.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Manny's agent contacts Dodgers — Boras' interest in outfielder's return to LA shared by GM Colletti — LOS ANGELES — The agent for Manny Ramirez contacted the Dodgers on Tuesday, one day after word that the club was considering making a run at free-agent outfielders Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:Manny Ramirez's agent contacts the Dodgers
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Rumors, Boston Dirt Dogs, MLB FanHouse, LA Times Sports Blog, Dodger Thoughts and River Avenue Blues
