Top News:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets make Lowe an offer, but expect slow response — The Mets do not anticipate a quick resolution to the pursuit of Derek Lowe, despite their three-year offer of roughly $36 million, and have a free-agent contingency plan in place that includes, in order, Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf and Jon Garland.
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Mets won't break bank to add more arms and fill out rotation — The Mets' three-year offer to Derek Lowe for slightly more than $36 million makes it clear the 35-year-old righty is their top free agent choice. But that doesn't mean another new starter won't join Lowe in the Mets rotation, too.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Lowe to keep shopping; Sox not involved — According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Derek Lowe is likely to continue shopping for a more desirable offer after the New York Mets presented him with a three-year, $36 million offer on Tuesday. — While some reports have placed Lowe's target …
Discussion:
Bats, Mets Fever, Mets Merized Online, The 'Ropolitans, Hot Foot, NJ.com and Ya Gotta Believe
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Interview: Tony Petitti, President and CEO, MLB Network — Welcome to New Year's Day, 2009. In years past, baseball fans would mark the change of the calendar as a milestone on the way to getting their baseball fix in a few short months. That all changes today at 6pm ET …
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
MLB Network to debut in mere hours — Today's debut to be seen in 50 million households — Studios 3 and 42 are ready, the new talent is ready, the new theme music is ready, the highlights are ready, Don Larsen's perfect game is ready after 52 years under wraps, the remotes are ready …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Turnbow, Rangers agree to deal — The Rangers moved to upgrade their bullpen Wednesday night by reaching a tentative agreement with free-agent right-hander Derrick Turnbow on a one-year contract. — Turnbow chose the Rangers over the Marlins and Pirates, in large part because of his familiarity …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Hot Stove Blog:
Turnbow, Rangers in agreement — The Rangers moved to upgrade their bullpen Wednesday night by reaching a tentative agreement with free-agent right-hander Derrick Turnbow on a one-year contract. — Turnbow chose the Rangers over the Marlins and Pirates, in large part because of his familiarity …
Howard Megdal / New York Observer:
The Pedro Feliciano Project — For players in Caribbean winter leagues like Pedro Feliciano, each game is an exercise in multitasking. — Feliciano, who is currently pitching for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico, has the immediate task in front of him—helping his team to the Puerto Rican playoffs.
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Cubs sign Aaron Miles; DeRosa likely gone — The Cubs signed switch-hitting infielder Aaron Miles to a two-year, $4.9 million deal on Wednesday, giving them a potential leadoff man to move Alfonso Soriano down in the lineup. — The 32-year-old Miles batted .317 in 134 games for St. Louis last year …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks spend for big results — Team invests in quest to return to postseason glory — NEW YORK — The Yankees' organizational message was so clear heading into the offseason, they might as well have trumpeted it from the message boards that hang on the sides of the old Yankee Stadium.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Closers market drying up for Brewers — With Fuentes gone, Milwaukee has few free-agent options remaining — MILWAUKEE — It came as little surprise to Brewers general manager Doug Melvin on Wednesday when free-agent closer Brian Fuentes chose his home-state Angels.
