Top News:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Lowe agrees to $60 million deal with Braves — The Braves finally have their ace. — They've agreed to terms with veteran pitcher Derek Lowe on a four-year, $60 million contract, a person familiar with negotiations said this morning. The deal will be finalized after Lowe takes a physical Wednesday.
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MetsBlog.com, Boston Globe, Baseball Insider, Sabernomics, Mets Blog, MLB Rumors, True Blue LA, Productive Outs …, NJ.com, Mostly Mets, Braves Blast, Jorge Says No!, Dodger Thoughts, Mets Merized Online, River Avenue Blues, Mets Heads, Walkoff Walk, Projo Sox Blog, The 'Ropolitans, Sliding Into Home, 24 Hours From Suicide, Talking Chop, Chop-n-Change and Amazin' Avenue
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Lowe's talks with Braves heating up … Free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe is in serious discussions with the Atlanta Braves, SI.com has learned. — The Braves are trying hard to finalize a deal that would solidify their rotation. The deal for Lowe is believed to be for close to $60 million over four years.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Braves make 4-year, $60M offer — Free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe has received a four-year, contract offer worth about $60 million from the Braves, and indications are that he's leaning strongly toward signing with Atlanta, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Loge 13, umpbump.com, This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes, MLB FanHouse and Angels blog
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Lowe goes to Braves … Star free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe is heading to the Braves, SI.com has learned. — Lowe will soon sign with Atlanta, according to officials with both the Mets and Phillies, the two other National League division rivals in contention for Lowe.
Mike Puma / New York Post:
MINAYA'S 50-50 ON PEDRO'S RETURN — Heads, it's Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez or Randy Wolf. Tails, it's Pedro Martinez or some other option for the Mets' rotation. — GM Omar Minaya yesterday made it a coin flip when asked about his confidence in landing one of the Big 3 starters he has pursued in recent weeks.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Smoltz introduced — John Smoltz had not held up a new jersey and slapped on a new cap for 23 years, since he was an 18-year old draft choice of his hometown Detroit Tigers. He spent 22 years with one team, the Atlanta Braves, re-upping each time free agency arrived.
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ESPN.com:
Smoltz says he's determined, focused — BOSTON — John Smoltz has signed with the Boston Red Sox, confident he can still contribute after 20 years with the Atlanta Braves and major offseason shoulder surgery. — Smoltz — “I'm as determined and I'm as focused as I've ever been,” …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Smoltz excited to join Red Sox — Veteran right-hander could be ready by Opening Day if needed — BOSTON — In a career in which John Smoltz has done virtually everything — from winning a Cy Young Award and a World Series championship, to notching 3,000 strikeouts and having sustained dominance …
Discussion:
Center Field
MLB.com:
MLB.com voters share Hall thoughts — Baseball writers sound off on who they voted for and why — A dozen MLB.com writers voted in the Hall of Fame balloting this year, and this is how they voted: — MICHAEL BAUMAN: Rickey Henderson, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Lee Smith
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TheNaturalMevs / Diamond Hoggers:
An Exclusive Virtual Tour of New Yankee Stadium — On the day that the Yankees unveil a new patch commemorating their new palace, we present you with one of the first inside looks at the new stadium. This tour comes courtesy of us from Editor George's roommate (thanks George).
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Enter smiling — Long wait ends as Sox slugger Rice, never one to court the media, wins writers' votes for Hall of Fame in last time on ballot — He crushed baseballs for 16 Boston summers, rarely pausing to take a bow, shake a hand, or play the fool for the 6 o'clock standup.
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Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Mets' pizza patch the laughingstock of baseball uniform world — If you're the type of person who doesn't spend much time thinking about sleeve patches on uniforms, don't worry. — Neither do the Mets. — The team recently unveiled the logo to celebrate their upcoming first season …
Brian McTaggart / Houston Chronicle:
Astros closer Valverde agrees to $8 million deal — Team, reliever avoid arbitration with one-year agreement — After losing his arbitration case as spring training began last year, closer Jose Valverde got a contract finalized well in advance of camp by agreeing to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Astros on Monday.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Owners to decide on two rule changes — Postseason rainouts, one-game tiebrakers on the docket at meetings — PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Two significant rule changes affecting the postseason and one-game tiebreakers are on the docket for the first quarterly meetings of the 30 Major League Baseball owners …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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 …
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