Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Andy Pettitte Rejects Yankees' Offer, Making Return Uncertain — In some ways, Andy Pettitte is no different from the dozens of other free agents to start the new year without a team. Players all over baseball are waiting for better offers, and teams are searching for bargains.
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Newsday, In Mo We Trust, Brew Crew Ball, Jorge Says No!, MLB Rumors, Subway Squawkers, It is about the money, stupid, MLB FanHouse, The Sommer Frieze, River Avenue Blues, Bugs & Cranks, iYankees, Respect Jeter's Gangster, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, The Yankee Scrolls, Pinstriped Scranton and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
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John Harper / NY Daily News:
Andy rejects offer, but could still return — Although Andy Pettitte has frustrated Yankee brass by declining to accept the Bombers' one-year offer of $10 million, the Yankees haven't closed the door on a deal for the veteran lefthander. — According to a person close to the situation …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pettitte rejects Yankees' contract offer — Starter would like to return but holding out for more money — NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte still wants to rejoin the Yankees, and the Yankees want the veteran back in pinstripes. — But dollars may prevent a happy reunion for the longtime stalwart …
Discussion:
This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes
Peter Gammons / ESPN:
Romero questions suspension — While Major League Baseball never said J.C. Romero tried to cheat, the 33-year-old reliever who won the third and clinching games of the 2008 World Series has been ruled guilty of “negligence” and will be suspended for the first 50 games of the 2009 season. — Romero
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Yankees' RHP Mitre to get 50-game suspension — New York Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre will receive a 50-game suspension Tuesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. Like Philadelphia Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, Mitre claims he had no desire to break baseball rules …
Sporting News:
MLB to suspend Phillies LHP Romero, Yankees RHP Mitre 50 games — Major League Baseball on Tuesday will suspend Philadelphia Phillies lefthander J.C. Romero and New York Yankees righthander Sergio Mitre for the first 50 games of the 2009 season for using banned nutritional supplements, according to published reports.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Rays, Burrell near two-year, $16M deal — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Community, MLB FanHouse, The Heater, MLB Rumors, DRaysBay, Out Of Left Field, Athletic Supporters, Baseball Musings, My Pinstripes, Projo Sox Blog, Boston Globe, Bucs Dugout, Mets Merized Online, The Cub Reporter (TCR), Drunk Jays Fans, THE BASEBALL SAVANT and Walkoff Walk
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Confident Mets will not raise offer to Lowe, source says — The Mets, confident that they have no serious competition for Derek Lowe's services, do not intend to raise their three-year, $36-million offer to the righthander at this time, a person informed of the club's thinking told Newsday.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, NY Sports Dog, New Jersey Online, Mets Merized Online, 24 Hours From Suicide, A Red Sox Fan …, Mets Fever and Newsday
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Braves still ‘optimistic’ about improving roster
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Milton Bradley to sign with Cubs — Volatile Bradley could solidify Cubs' lineup — With the trade of Jason Marquis and the signing of Milton Bradley to be announced as soon as Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, the Cubs' off-season agenda appears to be fulfilled, right? — Not necessarily.
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Marquis could be a hit; Redding remains in mix — A confluence of factors led the Rockies to acquiring Jason Marquis, a transaction that will become official tomorrow. He's a winner, having gone to the playoffs every season of his career. He's a competitor, posting a 2.51 ERA in his Coors Field cameos.
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Third lefty is added to pen — The Cardinals' bullpen puzzle became complete Monday — except for one significant piece. — The Cardinals acquired their third lefthanded reliever in two months, signing free agent Royce Ring to a one-year contract. Ring joins Charlie Manning and Trever Miller …
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ESPN.com:
Sources: A's, Giambi on verge of one-year deal — The Oakland Athletics and free agent DH Jason Giambi are on the verge of agreeing on a one-year deal with an option for 2010, Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — The deal would pay Giambi, who started his major league career in Oakland …
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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Ex-Cub Lee Smith doesn't understand lack of Hall love — Retired Cubs closer fuming over lack of Hall of Fame votes — Jim Murray, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning sports columnist, once referred to Lee Smith as the active player most likely to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez's agent and Dodgers' Ned Colletti are still talking — “We still have differences on what we think, but we're still talking,” the Dodgers' general manager says about negotiations with Scott Boras. — Manny Ramirez still doesn't have a new offer from the Dodgers …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals miss out on Bradley — Slugger picks Cubs; Milledge, Dukes to compete in center — WASHINGTON — The Nationals wanted free agent Milton Bradley to be their center fielder in 2009, but they found out on Monday that the switch-hitter elected to sign with the Cubs.
Ameet Sachdev / Chicago Tribune:
Bidding for Chicago Cubs may be near a conclusion — Tribune Co. could announce winner in week to 10 days — Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Cubs, is close to selecting a winning bid for the team from three finalists, according to people familiar with the sales talks.
