Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Archrivals lead hunt for Manny … Well known for bold free-agent signings and boosted by a solid financial situation, the San Francisco Giants look like a major threat to steal superstar free agent slugger Manny Ramirez away from the archrival Dodgers. — While the Dodgers …
Discussion:
Twins Insider, MLB Rumors, El Lefty Malo, Mets Merized Online, Scott Proctor's Arm, Drunk Jays Fans and Associated Press
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Wren, Cox meet with Lowe at Turner Field — Chipper calls free-agent pitcher with sales pitch; Mets, Phillies also interested — Braves officials met Thursday with free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe at Turner Field, with the shock of John Smoltz's exit reverberating in Atlanta and an increased sense of urgency in the air.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Redding agrees in principle with Mets on $2.25 million deal — If the Washington Nationals hadn't balked at a trade for Willy Taveras a month ago, Tim Redding might be a Rockie today. But once he was non-tendered, becoming a free agent, the chance to chase a childhood dream trumped everything else.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets on verge of signing Tim Redding — The Mets and right-handed starter Tim Redding are on the verge of completing a one-year agreement for about 2.5 million dollars that would bring Redding aboard for the 2009 season, Newsday has learned. — One person familiar with the negotiations described the process as “in the home stretch.”
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Starting Pitcher: Redding and Mets close to Deal
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Pavano finds right fit with Indians — Right-hander has plenty of motivation after New York experience — CLEVELAND — Carl Pavano's four seasons with the Yankees were painful enough on the physical front. — But when speaking to reporters Friday about his decision to sign with the Indians …
Discussion:
The Yankee Scrolls, 3:10 to Joba, In Mo We Trust, This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes and River Avenue Blues
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Bloomquist will compete with Callaspo — Royals give former Mariners infielder/outfielder two-year deal — KANSAS CITY — The Royals and infielder Willie Bloomquist have reached an agreement on a two-year contract, MLB.com learned on Friday. — Bloomquist is expected to compete …
Pete Toms / The Biz of Baseball:
A Detailed Look at the Ties Between MLB, MiLB, and Independent Leagues — MLB clubs have been very active the past handful of years in expanding their interests in to the affiliated minor leagues. Several factors could be motivating this behaviour, including, steep increases in player development costs …
Daily Yomiuri Online:
Kawakami close to deal with Braves — LOS ANGELES—Free agent right-hander Kenshin Kawakami is close to reaching a deal with the Atlanta Braves, it was learned Thursday. — The 33-year-old Kawakami, looking to jump to the majors after spending all 11 seasons of his pro career with the Chunichi Dragons …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's bring back utility infielder Gomez — Veteran agrees to minor league deal, gets invite to spring training — The Orioles have agreed to a minor league deal with utility infielder Chris Gomez, bringing the veteran back to the organization after a year's absence.
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Putz to join Wright on Team USA roster — Six other Mets to take part in second World Baseball Classic — NEW YORK — Despite their presence throughout the inaugural World Baseball Classic, the Mets were underrepresented on the roster of Team USA. Nineteen players within …
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Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants invite Posey, 15 others to camp — Third baseman Guzman also in group headed to Spring Training — SAN FRANCISCO — Officially declaring what had been assumed all along, the Giants announced Friday that catcher Buster Posey, perhaps their most highly regarded prospect …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Busting the Myth of the Salary Cap — Small-market teams love salary caps. Or rather, they think they do. At least on paper, caps stop teams in New York, Boston, and Chicago from oligopolizing the free-agent market, and should therefore help level the economic playing field.
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
What's the catch? — Marc Rubin (no relation), a 26-year veteran stats professor at Southern New Hampshire University's Graduate School of Business, where he specializes in compensation analysis, writes Surfing the Mets with the assertion that the Mets' bullpen woes in 2008 were attributable to the team's catchers.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Associated Press:
MLB players given drug exemptions on the rise … NEW YORK (AP) — ADHD was on the rise in the baseball again last season. — A total of 106 exemptions for banned drugs were given to major leaguers claiming Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder from the end of the 2007 season until …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs put their trust in Bradley — $30M outfielder insists troubles are thing of past — After two months of courting and waiting and making the finances work, the Cubs finally introduced Milton Bradley as their new right fielder Thursday. — And depending on which side of the optimism fence …
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