Top News:
Mark Bowman / Hot Stove Blog:
Braves nearing Kawakami deal and preparing Lowe offer — By the time the Braves make their first formal offer to Derek Lowe early next week, they may have already lured Kenshin Kawakami to Atlanta to strengthen the middle of their rotation. Multiple Major League sources confirmed Friday night …
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves taking aim at Lowe, Kawakami — Free-agent righty, Japanese star could both end up in Atlanta — ATLANTA — The Braves are expected to make an offer to Derek Lowe early next week, but by that time they may have already added Kenshin Kawakami to their starting rotation.
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 …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
T. Hanson on way, but is D. Lowe? — On the day after the John Smoltz terminus in Terminus (that was the original name of Atlanta), as Smoltz stories were splashed all over the newspaper waiting at the end of my driveway, it was an interesting to see the cover of the Baseball America issue waiting in my mailbox.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:Archrivals lead hunt for Manny
Discussion:
Twins Insider, El Lefty Malo, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, Scott Proctor's Arm, iYankees, Drunk Jays Fans and Associated Press
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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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Team USA roster taking shape — Peavy, Lackey, Oswalt lining up in rotation for '09 Classic — Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic started last month with Derek Jeter of the Yankees as the starting shortstop and Davey Johnson as the manager.
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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, River Avenue Blues and This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes
Fox Sports:
Stimulant exemptions in MLB on the rise — Major League Baseball authorized about 8 percent of its players to use drugs for ADHD last season, which allowed them to take otherwise banned stimulants. A total of 106 exemptions for banned drugs were given to players claiming Attention Deficit …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
Royals Authority, Fox Sports, MVN, Rany on the Royals, Baseball Musings, U.S.S. Mariner and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Dodgers agree to terms with Shawn Estes — LOS ANGELES: Pitcher Shawn Estes has agreed to terms of a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that could be worth as much as $1.55 million. — Estes would receive $550,000 if added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster …
Associated Press:
Red Sox finalize one-year, $5M deal with Penny … BOSTON (AP) — Brad Penny and Mike Lowell have more in common than a 2003 World Series ring: They both came to Boston to revive their careers. — Penny, who finalized a one-year, $5 million deal Friday, is a two-time All-Star who won …
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 …
Henry Schulman / SFGate:
Manny update No. 3,452 — I really enjoyed this blog entry that skewers the daily rat-a-tat of Manny Ramirez rumors in the press and online, of which I contributed my fair share. — I am an old-school newspaperman who actually has come to appreciate the immediacy of the Internet …
