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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Mike Puma / New York Post:
RIGHTY IS SNEEZING AT $12M PER YEAR — The Mets are playing Lowe ball, but their target isn't biting. — According to a baseball source, Derek Lowe is hardly overwhelmed by the three-year offer of about $36 million the Mets have extended him, potentially sending the sides toward a protracted stare-down.
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze
Yahoo! Sports:
Rangers sign RHP Turnbow to minor league deal — Buzz up! — ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) —The Texas Rangers on Thursday signed pitchers Derrick Turnbow, Casey Daigle and Elizardo Ramirez to minor league contracts. — Turnbow, who will turn 31 on January 25, has spent the last four seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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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
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 …
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 …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Fuentes signs 2-year deal with Angels — For starters, the Rockies never made a serious attempt to retain their closer. — So Brian Fuentes' signing Wednesday with the Los Angeles Angels wasn't a surprise, but his contract was. The left-hander, considered one of the top 10 players available …
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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.
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.
