Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
PHILS SIGN COLE HAMELS FOR THREE YEARS — The Phillies have reached a three-year, $20.5 million contract with their ace, Cole Hamels, the Post has learned. — Hamels will receive $4.35 million in 2009, $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011. Though a long-term contract …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Phils' Hamels gets $20.5M extension — Ace left-hander Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies have reached agreement on a three-year extension worth $20.5 million, SI.com has learned. — The new deal will pay the Phillies' World Series hero $4.35 million this coming season, then $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011.
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Source: O's, Markakis close to six-year extension — Reported deal would be worth between $64 million and $66 million in guaranteed money — It looks as if Nick Markakis will be patrolling right field at Camden Yards for several more years. — Markakis and the Orioles have made …
Terence Moore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Mazzone admits he erred leaving Braves — In addition to Cy Maddux, Cy Glavine and Cy Smoltz for the Braves, there was Cy Mazzone, the pitching coach who helped push those other Cys into the city limits of Cooperstown. — Then Cy Mazzone blew it. — He left. He should have stayed with the Braves forever.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates minicamp: Alvarez lags behind — McCutchen, Lincoln in peak shape, but not latest first-rounder — BRADENTON, Fla. — Two of the Pirates' top three prospects, outfielder Andrew McCutchen and pitcher Brad Lincoln, reported to minicamp in exemplary shape.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Lowe: I'll love playing in Atlanta — Contract finalized, right-hander introduced at Turner Field — ATLANTA — When Derek Lowe arrived at Turner Field for a Jan. 8 meeting with the Braves, it seemed like the team couldn't have picked a worse day to attempt to sell him on the organization.
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MLB Rumors
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Wellemeyer, Cardinals close to deal — Club hopes to avoid arbitration with right-hander, four others — ST. LOUIS — Todd Wellemeyer could have a new contract with the Cardinals finalized by the end of the holiday weekend. — Wellemeyer and general manager John Mozeliak both said on Saturday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Piniella hints Marshall is front-runner for fifth starter — CUBS IN BRIEF: — With the opening of Cubs Convention signaling the winter stretch drive toward spring training, the Cubs have a significant question mark at the end of their rotation. And the first thing manager Lou Piniella …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves to discuss option of adding Andruw — Agent says 8 teams have called about free agent — Andruw Jones is there if they want him, but the Braves haven't decided if they want him enough to make any significant commitment to the fallen former Atlanta center fielder.
Associated Press:
Carpenter seeking return to Cardinals rotation — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two months after having elbow surgery, oft-injured St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter is optimistic about making at least 28 starts this season. — “I feel great. I really do,” Carpenter said Saturday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Alex Walsh / MLB Rumors:
Reds Predictions From John Fay — By Alex Walsh [January 17 at 4:00pm CST] — John Fay has taken a unique approach to generating some more offseason predictions for this weekend. Rather than offer up ideas on what the Reds might do, Fay thinks he's more likely to be correct if he takes a few guesses at what they won't do.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Hearing Offers for Swisher and Nady — On his official Web site, Nick Swisher is depicted in a Yankees uniform, staring out at a pitcher as he wags his bat over his head. The photo has obviously been altered — Swisher has a beard, for one thing — and the scene it depicts may never come to pass.
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets are unlikely to be keeping up with Jones — The Mets briefly contemplated trading for Andruw Jones earlier this winter as a way to unload Luis Castillo's contract. — But while the Dodgers have eaten the final year of the free-agent bust's whopping deal, one team official still answered …
