Top News:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Milton Bradley Signs With Cubs — By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 3:10pm CST] — According to ESPN Radio's Bruce Levine, the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30MM contract “with some options in the deal.” Ken Rosenthal has a similar story, noting that the two sides have to “work through language issues.”
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, River Avenue Blues, Hire Jim Essian, Walkoff Walk, A League of Her Own and Al's Ramblings
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ESPN:
Sources: Cubs, Bradley agree to deal — The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley, sources told ESPN on Monday. — The deal is pending a physical. — Bradley led the American League in on-base percentage last season …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rays, Burrell Agree To Two-Year Deal — By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 1:51pm CST] — 1:51pm: Buster Olney agrees with Rosenthal. He writes that Burrell has agreed in principle to a two-year $16MM deal with the Rays pending a physical. — 12:51pm: According to Ken Rosenthal …
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Burrell, Rays sign 2-year deal; DH role likely … Pat Burrell's last swing of the bat in 2008 was a double against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the World Series. Now, his first swing of the bat in 2009 will be as a member of those very same Rays. — Tampa Bay has signed Burrell to a two-year contract worth $16 million.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Deadspin, The700Level.com, Bluebird Banter, Sliding Into Home and Lone Star Ball
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Yankees will be must-see TV — The home clubhouse at the new Yankee Stadium is enormous, significantly bigger than the one at the old Yankee Stadium. That's good. It needs to be as large as possible to accommodate all the talent, the egos, the money and the pressure that will be in that room.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Teixeira introduction set for Tuesday — News conference scheduled at Yankee Stadium for slugger — NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium is set to host what may be its final gala on Tuesday, as the Yankees prepare to introduce another winter prize in first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Source: A's closing in on Giambi — Free-agent first baseman could sign one-year deal this week — OAKLAND — The Rays agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Pat Burrell on Monday, dramatically increasing the likelihood of free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi returning to the A's.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giambi To A's Imminent? — By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 3:38pm CST] — According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the A's have made significant progress in their talks with Jason Giambi. He says a deal appears imminent. Mychael Urban heard today that the A's could sign Giambi this week, possibly for one year with an option.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
AOL Sports:
Sunnier Times in New Mainstream Media — Sports Commentary — We all have our career flashpoints. Mine came in China, perhaps triggered by a near-death experience while climbing the Great Wall. Or the horror of Bill Plaschke, my TV sparring partner, trying the local delicacy …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers continue quest for pitching — Upgrading rotation, bullpen remains Texas' main issue — ARLINGTON — A new year is here and there are still a few things that remain unknown about the 2009 Rangers. — As the Rangers offices reopen for business after a holiday break …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Thoughts on Teixeira, Joba and the Free-Agent Market — Back from vacation, just in time for what should be the official unveiling of Mark Teixeira this week. Signing Teixeira seemed like an obvious move all along, but the Yankees threw us off-track with comments like this from General Manager Brian Cashman …
Discussion:
ESPN
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Mets' talks with Lowe to heat up
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors and MLB.com
Associated Press:
Astros give minor league deals to five players … HOUSTON (AP) — Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie and reliever Clay Hensley were among five players who agreed Monday to minor league contracts with the Houston Astros. — Outfielder John Gall, and infielders Mark Saccomanno and Jason Smith also agreed to deals.
Peter Bendix / Beyond the Box Score:
Verducci Effect Update: 7 Risky Pitchers for 2009 — “It's like training for a marathon. You need to build stamina incrementally. The unofficial industry standard is that no young pitcher should throw more than 30 more innings than he did the previous season.
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
M's Hire Tom Tango — Derek noted it in passing in his thread on Blengino's BP interview, but it deserves its own post. The Mariners have hired Tom Tango as a consultant to assist them in pushing forward their advancement into the 21st century of statistical analysis.
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies ace Hamels will be cashing in as arbitration begins today — The situation John Boggs and Cole Hamels currently face is one that makes baseball's offseason such a unique beast. — Fresh off a campaign in which Hamels established himself as one of the game's most dominant pitchers …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Phillies Nation, delawareonline, Philliesflow.com, Baseball Musings and MLB Rumors
Daniel Barbarisi / Providence Journal:
CATCH-22 … At Jason Varitek's peak, he was a top-five catcher, an offensive force who was just as valuable behind the plate as he was in the locker room. — But offensively, that peak is at least three years gone. The Red Sox would be making a mistake to pay him like the player he once was …
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