Top News:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Henderson, Rice given Hall passes — Rickey Henderson, widely considered the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of baseball, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Monday on his first ballot with 94.8 percent of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Hardball Times, Baseball Analysts, Boston Globe, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, Walkoff Walk, Out Of Left Field, Angels blog, Redleg Nation, Batter's Box Interactive …, MY BASEBALL BIAS, AZ Snakepit, Athletics Nation, sox1fan.com, The Griddle, Home Run Derby, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Twinkie Town, Center Field, 6-4-2, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Associated Press:
Henderson, Rice in Hall of Fame … NEW YORK — Rickey Henderson sped his way into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot Monday, and Jim Rice made it in on his 15th and final try. — Henderson, baseball's career leader in runs scored and stolen bases, received 94.8 percent of the vote …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Rice triumphant in final pursuit of Hall — Red Sox star elected into Cooperstown in 15th year on ballot — BOSTON — For Jim Rice, the sting from 14 years of rejection suddenly became as far gone as many of the 382 home runs he belted during his career with the Boston Red Sox.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:
Henderson, Rice elected to Hall of Fame — All-time steals leader, former Red Sox slugger to enter Cooperstown — Baseball Writers' Association of America — • 2009 Hall of Fame election announcement: Watch — • Rickey Henderson conference call: Listen
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Rice elected to Hall of Fame — Jim Rice was watching his soap operas on television this afternoon, like he always does. At 1:10 p.m., he decided he would call Red Sox media relations director Pam Ganley. He wanted to ask her if she knew whether or not he was in the Hall of Fame.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Jay Jaffe / Sports Illustrated:Unconventional Wisdom: Who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?
Discussion:
Cursed To First
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers' Michael Young asks for trade, says hand forced — Spring training is five weeks away, and the Texas Rangers don't know with certainty whether the face of their ballclub will be with them. — Michael Young has told general manager Jon Daniels to explore a trade after balking …
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Tampa Bay Rays sign OF Gabe Kapler — UPDATE, 4:24: If you are wondering why the Rays could sign Kapler for $1-million after saying they couldn't afford to re-sign Rocco Baldelli, who got a $500,000 guaranteed salary from the Red Sox, the answer is the millions of dollars Baldelli can earn in incentives if he plays regularly.
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Mike Fish / ESPN.com:
Source: Grand jury convenes in Clemens probe — A federal grand jury has convened in Washington, D.C., to determine whether to indict seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for lying under oath to Congress when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, ESPN.com has learned.
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Yahoo! Sports, The Yankee Scrolls, New Jersey Online, LA Times Sports Blog and MLB FanHouse
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Source: Angels express interest in Dye — Life “under, under the radar,” is the way White Sox general manager Ken Williams is now choosing to conduct business this off-season. — That means rumors are mere whispers from dark corners, while actual news that is uncovered is met with a standard …
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros reach accord with Valverde — Houston avoids arbitration by inking 2008 NL saves leader — HOUSTON — Last year, Jose Valverde and the Astros were miles apart in terms of deciding on a salary figure for the 2008 season. The case went to an arbitration hearing …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees break out a new patch — The Yankees are breaking out a patch commemorating the first season at the new Stadium. It'll be on the home and away uniforms and available on all manner of merchandise. — Yankees.com has a few shirts with the logo available already.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals extend non-roster invites to five — Robinson, who stole 62 bases in Class A, will join club this spring — KANSAS CITY — Five Minor Leaguers have been invited by the Royals to join the Major League camp at Spring Training. — Included is outfielder Derrick Robinson …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Mientkiewicz thinks return is unlikely — Veteran has not been contacted by Pirates this offseason — PITTSBURGH — After months of waiting for the Pirates to make him an offer, veteran Doug Mientkiewicz said on Monday that he believes the door is just about closed on a return to Pittsburgh in 2009.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds assessing free-agent outfielders — As stock continues to dwindle, club considers adding a slugger — CINCINNATI — Much of the Reds' Hot Stove talk this winter has centered on finding a right-handed hitter who can play left field. — Now that most of the quality righty sluggers …
