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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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.
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.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Vote is in — anybody understand it? — I keep looking at the numbers that just rolled in from Hall of Fame Election Central. — They can't be right. — Unless my calculator's busted, those numbers are telling me that 28 voters cast ballots that did not include the name of Rickey Henderson.
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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
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 …
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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 …
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Peter Schmuck / The Schmuck Stops Here:
Minor matters — The Orioles have signed a couple more players to minor league contracts. Jolbert Cabrera, who is the brother of shortstop Orlando Cabrera, will compete with Donnie Murphy and Chris Gomez for a utility role and probably end up as Triple-A depth.
Discussion:
Marlins Today
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:Orioles ink J. Cabrera, Hammock to minor league deals
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Sox, Diamondbacks continue to talk Montero — At this point, the Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks clearly feel there is a fit. The Diamondbacks have a catcher to deal and the Red Sox have prospects to trade, and it is only a matter of finding the right match. — Unless, of course, something better comes along.
New York Post:
KNICK SLAPPED WITH SEX-HARASS SUIT — GUY DRIVER: EDDY CURRY PUT MOVES ON ME — Knicks center Eddy Curry was slapped with a shocking sex-harassment suit Monday by his former driver, who claims the 6-foot-11 hoopster tried to solicit gay sex from him. — The stunning court papers claim Curry …
Discussion:
Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Talk Hoops, With Leather, MVN, The Yankee Scrolls, The Big Lead and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Starting Pitcher: Mets offer 3-yr Deal to Perez
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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
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NY Daily News:
Grand jury to consider Clemens perjury evidence — A federal grand jury will begin hearing evidence as soon as Tuesday in Washington to determine whether to indict Roger Clemens for lying under oath before Congress when he vehemently denied using anabolic steroids and human growth hormone during his illustrious career.
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