Top News:
Ryan Divish / Mariners Insider:
Mariners make a trade for reliever David Aardsma — Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik continues to be busy making moves. After signing Erik Bedard and Aaron Heilman to one-year deals to avoid arbitration, Zdruiencik also announced that the Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Aardsma …
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Papelbon, Lopez sign one-year deals — The Red Sox today announced that closer Jonathan Papelbon and lefthanded reliever Javier Lopez have agreed to one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration. — The club did not divulge the financial terms of either deal, but the Globe's Amalie Benjamin …
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Papelbon's $6.25 million contract makes history — The Boston Red Sox signed closer Jonathan Papelbon to a one-year contract worth $6.25 million Tuesday, the largest deal in history for a closer who was eligible for arbitration for the first time. — Papelbon
Dylan Hernandez / LA Times Sports Blog:
Inside Jonathan Broxton's new Dodgers contract — Jonathan Broxton's new, $1.825-million contract with the Dodgers includes $200,000 in incentives based on games finished. That means he'll probably be in line earn more than $2 million if he becomes the Dodgers' closer.
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB FanHouse, MLB Rumors, Pinstripes, Pa., River Avenue Blues, The Bronx Insider, The Yankee Scrolls and iYankees
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
I'll have what Melky is drinking — Brian Bruney asked for $1.55 million in arbitration. The Yankees offered $1.1 million. Seems like there is a deal to be made there before a hearing. — Melky Cabrera, meanwhile, asked for $1.7 million. The Yankees offered $1.2 million.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees sign Nady for one season — Brian Cashman is on vacation this week. But there are still deals to be done and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $6.55 million contract with Xavier Nady. — Nady made $3.35 last season, so he nearly doubled up. — Brian Bruney and Melky Cabrera are next in line.
csnphilly.com:
Howard Wants $18 Million; Victorino, Blanton Sign — Compared to last year's offer, the Phillies doubled up what they want to pay Ryan Howard for the 2009 season. Trouble is, Howard's price went up, too. — Teams and players exchanged arbitration numbers on Tuesday and the 2006 NL MVP …
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ESPN.com:
Phillies' Howard petitions for $18M in arbitration — NEW YORK — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has asked for $18 million in salary arbitration, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. — Philadelphia offered him $14 million, a raise of $4 million.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Salary figures for all signings; McLouth, Maholm more than $1 million apart — Here are salary figures for the Pirates' other three signings this morning: Zach Duke will get $2.2 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility, plus $100,000 in performance bonuses.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs fire D. Baxter after DUI arrest — The Diamondbacks have cut ties with the man who played their team mascot, D. Baxter the Bobcat, after he was arrested on suspicion of extreme DUI. — David Hamilton, 35, was fired by the Diamondbacks three weeks ago.
Adam Mertz / madison.com:
Fielder staying in Milwaukee in '09, Brewers GM says — Forget what you've read in the blogosphere: Prince Fielder will be wearing a Milwaukee Brewers uniform for all of the 2009 season. — So says general manager Doug Melvin, who flatly dismissed the trade rumors that have been flying …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Sullivan signs with Mets — Cory Sullivan, arguably one of the best defensive center fielders in Rockies' history, has caught on with the Mets, signing a one-year, $600,000 major league deal with $300,000 in incentives. — Sullivan was a career .279 hitter with the Rockies in four seasons …
Discussion:
Mets Fever, Mets Today, MetsBlog.com, The 'Ropolitans, Amazin' Avenue and Mets Merized Online
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci: Cold reality check for remaining free agents and more notes … Each passing day brings us closer to spring training and the remaining free agents to a cold reality check, if not forced retirement for a few. — The big money, except for what the Dodgers have socked away for Manny Ramirez, is gone.
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Dodgers enjoy visit to Lakers practice — Prospects get chance to mingle with Bryant, Abdul-Jabbar — EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — If the Dodgers are unable to sign Manny Ramirez to play left field next season, there's always a Plan B. — And this plan doesn't have to include free agents Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Day clears waivers, heads to Durham — Right-hander will be invited to big league Spring Training camp — ST. PETERSBURG — Right-hander Dewon Day cleared waivers Tuesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham. — The Rays claimed Day off waivers from the Red Sox before they signed right …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cy Young winner Cliff Lee open to extension from Cleveland Indians — Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, in Cleveland for a physical and the Indians press tour, talked about his busy offseason today at Progressive Field. — * Lee is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Glavine improves in second session — Veteran lefty believes he could be ready for start of regular season — ATLANTA — Tom Glavine's second mound session went better than the first, and now the veteran left-hander has even more reason to believe he'll be able to pitch again this upcoming season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rox stay with Buchholz, Barmes, Grilli — And then there was one. — Infielder Garrett Atkins is the only remaining arbitration-eligible player for the Rockies after they agreed to contracts with relievers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Grilli and second baseman Clint Barmes.
Diamond Leung / PE.com:
Dodgers sign Martin and Broxton — The Dodgers avoided arbitration with catcher Russell Martin, signing him to a one-year, $3.9 million contract today. — The Dodgers also signed reliever Jonathan Broxton to a one-year, $1.825 million contract plus incentives.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
A Coveted Team, a Tangled Web, a Tough Sell — The identity of the next owner of the Chicago Cubs could be known Wednesday, later this week or, given the pace of this deal, when Ron Santo is voted into the Hall of Fame. — The Tribune Company has been peddling the Cubs …
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Church, Pagan avoid arbitration — Ryan Church and Angel Pagan avoided arbitration by agreeing to 2009 contracts, leaving only John Maine and Pedro Feliciano as arbitration-eligible players yet to agree to terms. Church will earn $2.8 million, up from $2 million last season.
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Kubel agrees to a two-year deal — The Twins and outfielder/DH Jason Kubel have agreed on a two-year contract that will buy out his remaining two years of arbitration. The deal is expected to be finalized either this weekend or early next week. Terms of the agreement were not available.
