Top News:
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.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Burrell, Rays sign 2-year deal; Giambi to A's? … 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, having signed a two-year, $16 million contract Monday.
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.
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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
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 …
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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.”
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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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
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, The700Level.com, MLB Rumors, Phillies Nation, MLB FanHouse, SOX & Dawgs and The Good Phight
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Neal St. Anthony / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Longtime Twins owner Carl Pohlad, 93, dies — Carl Pohlad, a working-poor son of the Great Depression who became one of America's wealthiest dealmakers, has died. He was 93. — A financier who came to be best known through his 1984 acquisition of the Minnesota Twins …
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves still ‘optimistic’ about improving roster — GM Wren says team ‘involved in a lot discussions’ for free agents and trades — The Braves have had some notable swings-and-misses this offseason, but general manager Frank Wren is undeterred by the setbacks.
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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.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels lock in Mike Scioscia through at least 2015 — The manager agrees in principle to contract extension. Terms are not disclosed, but deal ensures the longest-tenured manager in the American League will continue with team ‘for a long, long time.’ — A failed suicide squeeze …
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.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Oswalt may be No. 1 starter for USA — Astros' ace to pitch for his country in World Baseball Classic — HOUSTON — Several Major League organizations will be represented by the U.S.A. team in the World Baseball Classic, including the Astros, who have one marquee player ready to pitch.
