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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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'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.
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.
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 …
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).
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ESPN.com:
Yankees president subpoenaed over stadium — ALBANY, N.Y. — A New York Assembly committee investigating the use of millions of dollars in public funding to build the new Yankee Stadium has subpoenaed the team's president. — Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, a Democrat from Westchester County …
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Hey Man, Your Comments Don't Hold Water — “I never thought [Bert Blyleven] was a Hall of Famer when he was playing, and I saw him play his entire career.” — “[His popularity] is based on a lot of younger people on the Internet who never saw him play.” — “It's not about stats...it's about impact.”
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Rumors: Dunn, Wigginton, Sexson — By Tim Dierkes [January 13 at 3:15pm CST] — 3:15pm: Roch Kubatko says the Orioles would only consider Adam Dunn as a DH, and he wants to play the outfield. — 1:40pm: The latest from Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun (with an assist from Jeff Zrebiec)...
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Peter Schmuck / The Schmuck Stops Here:Minor matters — The Orioles have signed a couple more players to minor league contracts.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Michael Young's likely move is to third base, not a new team … Longtime Rangers star Michael Young doesn't want to move to third base. But at this point that seems to be a more likely option for him than moving to another team. With five years and $62 million remaining on his contract …
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NY Daily News:
Yanks, Mets reveal '09 stadium patches — It's a season of new beginnings - and new fashion - in Queens and the Bronx. — When the Mets and Yankees open their ballparks this spring for the first time, each team will be sporting a special commemorative patch on their uniforms …
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Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates invite Monroe, Perez to camp — The Pirates today signed outfielder Craig Monroe and catcher Miguel Perez to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training. — There now are 14 non-roster invitees.
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Owners to decide on two rule changes — Postseason rainouts, one-game tiebreakers 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 …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's finalize deal with Uehara — RHP, an eight-time All-Star in Japan, will have introductory news conference tomorrow; team is close to agreement with catcher Zaun — Pitcher Koji Uehara has passed a physical and finalized a two-year, $10 million incentive-laden deal with the Orioles …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Dunn Looking For Four Years, $56 Million — By Tim Dierkes [January 13 at 11:40am CST] — ESPN's Jerry Crasnick talked to an official of a team interested in Adam Dunn. That official said Dunn's current asking price is four years, $56MM ($14MM per). Crasnick says the Braves and Nationals are more focused on trades.
