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 …
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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 …
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 …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Team USA extends invitation to Hawpe — Rockies outfielder mulling offer to play in World Baseball Classic — DENVER — Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe has been invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and is mulling whether to commit to the tournament.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady — In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday. — General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Yankees Want To Trade Nady
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze, River Avenue Blues, Rivera's Cutter, WasWatching.com, SFGate and iYankees
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.
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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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Associated Press:
Ex-Astro Dave Roberts dies of cancer at 64 — Pitcher was with Pirates for 1979 World Series win over O's — MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — David Arthur Roberts, a lefthanded pitcher who played for eight Major League teams including the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, has died of lung cancer.
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.
Associated Press:
Rollins, Peavy among players interested in WBC … NEW YORK (AP) — World Series champion shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego ace Jake Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, are among the U.S. players eager to take part in the second World Baseball Classic this spring.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Boston Herald:
Mark Kotsay set to re-sign — After adding one role player yesterday by signing outfielder Rocco Baldelli to a one-year, $500,000 deal with incentives, the Red Sox [team stats] are poised to add another soon. — Mark Kotsay, whom the Sox obtained from Atlanta last August …
Discussion:
MLB.com, SOX & Dawgs, The Bottom Line, Fire Brand of the …, Talking Chop, MLB Rumors and Red Sox Monster
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