Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Sox agree to terms with Baldelli, Smoltz — The rest of Red Sox roster is taking shape, with the club coming to terms today with a pair of well-known players who have battled injuries and health problems in recent seasons. — Shortly after the Red Sox formally announced they had agreed …
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Lowe to meet with Braves — With the news that John Smoltz may be headed to the Red Sox, it should come as a no surprise that the Braves appear to be intensifying their pursuit of another free-agent pitcher: Derek Lowe. — According to a baseball source, Lowe is scheduled to meet …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Hardball Times, Mets Fever, Hot Foot, 24 Hours From Suicide and Ya Gotta Believe
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Baldelli close to signing with Red Sox; Smoltz not far behind — Rocco Baldelli is scheduled to be at Thursday night's Boston Baseball Writers dinner at the Westin Waterfront Hotel to accept the Tony Conigliaro Award. Will Baldelli have some good news as to his whereabouts for next season?
Discussion:
MLB.com, Clubhouse Insider, MetsBlog.com, Yahoo! Sports, Providence Journal, ESPN, The Heater, bronxbanterblog.com, Mets Today, It is about the money, stupid, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, YFSF, Sox and Pinstripes, BOSTON IRISH, The Bottom Line, Main Board, Fire Brand of the …, PBC Blog and SOX & Dawgs
Sabernomics:
So Long, Smoltz — According to numerous reports, John Smoltz will be joining the Red Sox for a guaranteed $5.5 million plus the potential for $4.5 million in incentives. This has already started an uproar in Bravesnation, because Smoltz has basically gone out of his way to deny his interest in other teams to fans.
Associated Press:
Hoffman, Brewers close in on deal — Career saves leader Trevor Hoffman is closing in on a deal with the Brewers. — A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the sides are near an agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been completed Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Brew Crew Ball, It is about the money, stupid, Brewers Bar and Yahoo! Sports
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Pettitte not happy with Yankees right now — Andy Pettitte is extremely unhappy with how his negotiations have gone with the Yankees, and the lefthander might be softening on his opposition to rejoining the Astros. — What once seemed a fait accompli - Pettitte returning to the Yankees …
Mike Puma / New York Post:
REDDING MULLS OFFER FROM METS — As Mets GM Omar Minaya continues negotiations to secure Derek Lowe's services, he also has other starting-pitching options in mind. — Minaya, according to a source, has offered a contract to Tim Redding, who went 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA for the Nationals last season.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets still confident they'll sign Lowe or Perez — The Mets took Scott Boras on a tour of Citi Field yesterday and served him lunch, but they didn't leave the agent with any parting gifts. — Boras and his top lieutenant, Mike Fiore, met with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, general manager Omar Minaya …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, New York Times, MetsBlog.com, Hot Foot, Mets Fever, MLB.com, Hardball and MLB Rumors
NY Daily News:
Yankees swing for bling in new plan — More than a quarter of the $370 million in taxpayer financing in the Yankees' latest demand would go to shiny new toys like giant video screens and upgraded luxury suites, documents show. — Nearly $95 million is for “scope modifications” …
Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
BP Fantasy Beat — Defense and Effects — We usually discuss pitchers individually in this space, but let's try a different approach this week, examining how the defense behind a pitcher can make or break his performance. We're going to take a look at the top five defenses from last year …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs land Bradley with three-year deal — Switch-hitter helps Piniella break up righties in middle of order — CHICAGO — The Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year contract Thursday, ending their search for a middle-of-the-lineup player who is not solely a right-handed hitter.
Ameet Sachdev / Chicago Tribune:
Final 3 bidders for Chicago Cubs — Tribune Co. asks trio of potential buyers to polish their bids — And then there were three. — The sale of the Chicago Cubs has come down to three finalists, nearly two years after the team's owner, Tribune Co., put the storied franchise and Wrigley Field on the market.
Cam Inman / Contra Costa Times:
Candid Cam: Giambi's return to A's is a hit, so far — A'S GENERAL MANAGER Billy Beane gushed. Jason Giambi blushed. And I felt like whispering hush, that Beane's re-introduction of Giambi to the Bay Area media Wednesday was sounding too much like a best-man speech.
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