Top News:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers, Jones strike deal to part ways — Veteran outfielder will be released or traded before Spring Training — LOS ANGELES — Andruw Jones and the Dodgers have reached an agreement to defer much of his remaining salary while virtually assuring he will not be with the club in 2009.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks CEO Moorad resigns — Moorad looking to purchase San Diego Padres … The Diamondbacks announced Friday that Jeff Moorad, general partner and chief executive officer, resigned. Team President Derrick Hall was promoted to President and CEO. — “Derrick has clearly demonstrated …
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ESPN:
D-backs CEO resigns, nears purchase of Pads — PHOENIX — Jeff Moorad has resigned as Arizona Diamondbacks chief executive officer and says he has reached an agreement in principle to buy the San Diego Padres. — Moorad said Friday he heads a “small but significant” group of investors …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
D'backs CEO resigns, hopes to purchase Padres — Jeff Moorad has resigned as chief executive officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks to pursue ownership of the San Diego Padres, and according to National League sources, he is in excellent position to buy the Padres.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Drew Silva / MLB Rumors:
White Sox And O's Discussing Floyd-Roberts Swap — By Drew Silva [January 2 at 9:46pm CST] — 9:46pm: Kubatko thinks the Orioles should demand second baseman Chris Getz, who spent most of last season with the White Sox' Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte. The 25-year-old hit .302 with 11 homers and 52 RBI in 111 games in '08.
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MLB.com:
White Sox, O's talking about Roberts — All-Star second baseman reportedly the apple of Chicago's eye — Reports of the Orioles looking to send two-time All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts to Chicago have been a staple of the Hot Stove season for years now.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees to conduct clinic in Taiwan — NEW YORK — Five members of the Yankees' player development staff are set to visit Taiwan next week, conducting a clinic with high school pitchers, catchers and coaches. — The Yankees announced plans on Friday to join the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association …
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Associated Press:
Construction worker injured in fall at new Yankee Stadium — A construction worker at the new Yankee Stadium has been taken to a hospital after falling 4 feet off scaffolding. — The city Department of Buildings says the worker was jolted off the mobile scaffold when one of its wheels hit a drain Friday afternoon.
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog
Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
WHAT YANKEES-BLOGS DO YOU READ? — I started writing this blog in April of 2005. Since that time, it seems like the Yankees-related blog scene has exploded. If you told me, today, that there were over 150 Yankees-related blogs currently publishing on a somewhat daily basis, it would not shock me.
Discussion:
Confessions of a She-Fan
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Clark to re-sign with D-backs … First baseman Tony Clark has reached preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a salary of about $800,000, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — The deal is pending completion of a physical exam.
Ken Bradley / Sporting News:
Chipper: Braves can't compete in free agency — Sporting News Today's Ken Bradley recently spoke with Braves third baseman Chipper Jones about all topics baseball. In Thursday's edition, we included Chipper's favorite memories of recently retired teammate Greg Maddux.
Discussion:
crashburnalley.com, THE BASEBALL SAVANT, Ya Gotta Believe, Mike's Mets, MLB FanHouse, Hot Foot, Baseball Musings and Talking Chop
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Bard: ‘I know that opportunity is out there’ — Josh Bard is back with the Red Sox and is looking forward to a fresh start in Boston. — The Red Sox formally announced today that they signed the veteran catcher, who had a brief stint with the club in 2006, to a non-guaranteed one-year contract …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: The Top 20 remaining free agents … This star-studded free-agent market is reminiscent of Bengie Molina on the base paths. That is to say, it's not moving too swift. Despite one of the best groups of free agents in years, a vast majority of those available players remain unsigned into the new year.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: BOSOX HITTER SEARCH, MANNY AND LOWE — Checking in from vacation once more. I figured it was a new year, so I would offer a new post. It also gives me a chance to tell those that are interested that I will be co-hosting a show on Sirius (channel 210)/XM (channel 175) all next week …
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Daniel Barbarisi / Providence Journal:
Clay Buchholz a top trade prospect for Red Sox
Clay Buchholz a top trade prospect for Red Sox
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball