Top News:
ESPN:
Sources: Red Sox, Youkilis agree to deal — The Red Sox locked up another of their young stars to a long-term deal Thursday. — Youkilis — Boston avoided arbitration with Kevin Youkilis, agreeing to a four-year contract with the first baseman worth more than $40 million, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, The Joy of Sox, Red Sox Monster, Yahoo! Sports, The Bottom Line, Fire Brand of the … and YFSF
RELATED:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Sox, Youkilis agree on long-term extension — Multiple baseball sources confirmed today that the Red Sox and first baseman Kevin Youkilis reached agreement on a four-year, $41 million contract extension through 2012, a deal that also includes a $13 million club option for 2013 that could bring the deal to $53 million over five seasons.
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Red Sox give Kevin Youkilis four-year extension — Having missed out on signing free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox [team stats] have taken steps to hold onto the All-Star first baseman they already have. — The Sox and Kevin Youkilis [stats] have a four-year extension …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Art Martone / Projo Sox Blog:Sox bring back Mark Kotsay
Discussion:
Sox and Pinstripes, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, SOX & Dawgs and Fire Brand of the …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Red Sox To Sign Kevin Youkilis For Four Years
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers talk privately with Russell Martin, part ways with Andruw Jones — The catcher and McCourts share lunch and tour of team's new spring training facility in Arizona, as he expresses hopes for long-term contract extension. Jones is release after disappointing results.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
RELATED:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers cut ties with Jones — Team releases outfielder after efforts to work a trade prove fruitless — LOS ANGELES — Barely one year after making Andruw Jones the highest-paid player in franchise history, the Dodgers released him. — Concluding one of the most stunning yet inexplicable collapses …
ESPN:
Source: Garcia in talks with Mets and Yankees — Freddy Garcia hopes to decide by next week whom he will sign with. Garcia is choosing between the Mets, Yankees, White Sox and Rangers. His agent, Peter Greenberg, tells 1050, “They all have their pros and cons.”
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Young will shift to third base — Rangers shortstop changes stance, clearing way for rookie Andrus — Rangers infielder Michael Young has agreed to move to third base for the 2009 season. — Young has also rescinded his request for a trade. The move opens the door for rookie Elvis Andrus to play shortstop.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Garland rejects D-Backs' offer — Looking for stability in their rotation, the Diamondbacks made a run at innings-eater Jon Garland this week, but their offer to the right-hander was rejected Thursday. — The value of the offer, which had a short shelf-life that expired Thursday …
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Padres target SS Eckstein — The San Diego Padres, looking for an affordable middle infielder to plug the hole created by the trade of shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis earlier this offseason, are focusing on free agent David Eckstein, said a baseball source. — Eckstein
RELATED:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Reed among Mets to file for arbitration — NEW YORK — Six Mets players, including Jeremy Reed, the outfielder the club obtained in the J.J. Putz trade last month, have filed for salary arbitration. — The club faces possible hearings with Ryan Church, Pedro Feliciano, John Maine, Angel Pagan and Duaner Sanchez, as well.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
RELATED:
John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
BREAKING: Ergopharm raided — Barely more than a week after Major League Baseball suspended Phillies reliever J.C. Romero for 50 games for using a banned substance, the laboratory that produced the nutritional supplement that the left-hander claimed was tainted and caused him to falsely test positive …
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Hillman to host infield get-together — Manager has Major League-sized turf at his spread in Texas — KANSAS CITY — Hey, y'all, come on down to Liberty Hill, Texas. Set a spell. Chew the fat. Snag some worm-killers. Whack the ol' horsehide. — All you infielders, that is.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Ex-Card Taguchi signed by Cubs — The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder So Taguchi to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Taguchi would earn $900,000 if he makes the team in spring training. — Taguchi spent all of last season as a backup outfielder for the Phillies …
Discussion:
Wrigleyville23
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles, Zaun agree to one-year deal — Contract includes team option for 2010; physical planned for Tuesday — Toronto Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun (right) is tagged out by Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora as he looks for a stolen base last season. Zaun agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Orioles.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Kazmir, Howell added to Team USA — Rays southpaws bring American roster to 26 players for Classic — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays will be represented on Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic after Scott Kazmir and J.P. Howell were added to the team Thursday.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Three Yankees file for arbitration — Outfielders Nady and Melky, reliever Bruney could go to hearing — NEW YORK — The Yankees' Brian Bruney, Melky Cabrera and Xavier Nady joined a group of 111 Major League players who filed for salary arbitration on Thursday.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Brewers, Bush avoid arbitration — Right-hander signs one-year deal worth $4 million — The Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday signed pitcher Dave Bush to a one-year, $4 million contract and avoided arbitration. — Bush is the second player to sign this week.
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Tribe inks Chulk to Minor League deal — CLEVELAND — Chalk up another Minor League signing for the Indians — and this time, you can chalk up Chulk. — The Indians have signed right-hander reliever Vinnie Chulk to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training camp.
