Top News:
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?
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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 …
Peter Gammons / ESPN:
Red Sox believe Baldelli can contribute — The Boston Red Sox were close to signing free-agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli on Wednesday night. It is expected to be announced at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner, where Baldelli will be honored. — Baldelli, 27, has been limited to 155 games …
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, SOX & Dawgs, The Schmuck Stops Here, Boston Globe and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Smoltz on verge of deal with Red Sox — John Smoltz has pitched his entire major league career with the Atlanta Braves, but he is on the verge of a deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to sources. — Smoltz — Smoltz, 41, has pitched in 708 games for the Braves, winning 210 games and earning 154 saves.
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.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Cox, Braves turn attention to Lowe — Manager travels to Turner Field to meet with free-agent righty — ATLANTA — Derek Lowe and John Smoltz can already compare notes about making the conversion from reliever to starter. Many fans in Atlanta are hoping these two hurlers can also soon brief each other about their former employers.
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.
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MLB.com:
Hoffman, Brewers close in on deal — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers are nearing a deal to sign free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman, a baseball source close to the negotiations told MLB.com in the wee hours on Thursday morning. — The one-year deal with an option for 2010 would move “Trevor Time” …
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, MLB.com, Mets Fever, Hardball and MLB Rumors
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.
RELATED:
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:Giambi rejoins Oakland, gets $5.25 million deal
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
