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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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 …
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
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.
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 …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Smoltz set to sign with Red Sox — Boston would target June return for rehabbing righty — BOSTON — Never shy about pitching on a big stage, John Smoltz, a potential Hall of Famer, is on the verge of signing with the Boston Red Sox, where every game feels big.
Discussion:
Toeing the Rubber, Projo Sox Blog, This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes and Respect Jeter's Gangster
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Smoltz to leave Atlanta for Boston — Deal could be completed as early as Thursday afternoon — ATLANTA — John Smoltz's days with the Braves appear to be over. Multiple sources have confirmed that the veteran hurler will officially sign with the Red Sox within the next two days.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Smoltz will sign with Red Sox — Deal could be completed as early as Thursday afternoon — ATLANTA — John Smoltz's days with the Braves appear to be complete. The veteran hurler could sign with the Red Sox as early as Thursday afternoon. — A Major League source who was in contact …
ESPN:
Sources: Hoffman, Brewers have deal — Career-saves leader Trevor Hoffman will be the Brewers' closer next season. — Hoffman — Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that Hoffman has agreed to a deal with Milwaukee. — Hoffman — Terms were not immediately available …
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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:
Yahoo! Sports
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:
MetsBlog.com, NorthJersey.com, New York Times, Hot Foot, MLB.com, Hardball, Mets Fever and MLB Rumors
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle, Hardball Times, MLB Rumors, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Bombers Beat, My Pinstripes and New Jersey Online
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
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.
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Gammons's take — ESPN baseball guru Peter Gammons, while promoting his upcoming “Hot Stove, Cool Music” event, spoke at length this afternoon on sports radio station WEEI about the future of Jason Varitek, Mark Teixeira's icy past relationship with Alex Rodriguez, and numerous other topics.
