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, Walkoff Walk, TigerBlog, Baseball Analysts, U.S.S. Mariner, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, 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, Boston Globe, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Twinkie Town, Center Field, 6-4-2, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
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
Joe Sheehan / Unfiltered:
Decision Day — At 2 p.m., it will be announced that Rickey Henderson, in his first year of eligibility, and Jim Rice, in his last, are the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Neither will come as a surprise; Henderson's election has been a foregone conclusion for a decade …
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts
Jay Jaffe / Sports Illustrated:Unconventional Wisdom: Who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?
Discussion:
Cursed To First
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 …
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
A Few Rumors, A Few FAs, A Few Yanks — Just a few drops of oil on the hot stove... * The Nats will not be among the players for Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young. The two teams have had some basic discussions, but it figures to end at that. Young is due $62 million over the next five seasons.
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
First-rounders earn non-roster invites — Beckham, Poreda among 18 players who will join Sox in spring — CHICAGO — Two potential on-field standouts of the not-too-distant future for the White Sox officially will be on display during the team's first Spring Training in Glendale, Ariz. …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Mets' pursuit of Perez heating up — NEW YORK — The Mets might be closer to filling another slot in their starting rotation with a familiar face. — Speaking on MLB Network's Hot Stove show, SI.com's Jon Heyman reported on Monday that the Mets have offered left-hander Oliver Perez …
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Starting Pitcher: Mets offer 3-yr Deal to Perez
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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.
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.
