Top News:
ESPN:
Pettitte, Yankees near 1-year deal — The New York Yankees and Andy Pettitte are close on a deal that will bring the veteran left-hander back for a year, Major League Baseball sources told Buster Olney on Monday. — Pettitte — The deal, sources told Olney, could be done as soon as Monday afternoon.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pettitte holding onto his pinstripes — Veteran left-hander signs incentive-laden, one-year deal — NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte is still a Yankee. — Yankees GM Brian Cashman held a conference call with Pettitte on Monday afternoon to announce that they agreed to a one-year contract …
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Sources: Pettitte to sign 1-year deal with Yanks — It made too much sense all along for them not to do it, and finally the Yankees and Andy Pettitte have essentially agreed on a one-year deal that will put him in pinstripes again this season. — Final details are still being worked out …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pettitte's deal is done — Conference call in a few minutes. I'll post some audio as soon as I can. — It's a $5.5 million deal that could balloon to as much as $12 million based on innings pitched and roster time. As I've written here for weeks, it makes complete sense and creates great flexibility in the rotation.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Pettitte, Yankees agree at $5.5 million — NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte and the Yankees agreed Monday to a $5.5 million, one-year contract that brings the left-hander back to New York. — Pettitte can make an additional $6.5 million on performance bonuses and bonuses based on time on the active roster.
Arthur Staple / Newsday:
Pettitte, Yankees agree to one-year deal — Andy Pettitte and the Yankees are close to a deal, according to an AP source. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) — Andy Pettitte and his agent, Randy Hendricks, may have employed a curious negotiating technique with the Yankees …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pettitte and Yankees Close to a Deal — The Yankees' winter-long standoff with Andy Pettitte is about to come to an end. The team is closing in on a one-year contract with Pettitte for just under $6 million, with incentives that could push it close to $12 million.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Yankees Sign Andy Pettitte
Discussion:
The Yankee Scrolls, NJ.com, Mets Merized Online, 3:10 to Joba, MVN and The Chuck Knoblog
Sports Illustrated:
Revealing excerpt from Joe Torre's new book … So, do you want me to manage? — Joe Torre began the meeting with that simple question. He was sitting in the Legends Field office of George Steinbrenner. There was a time, as recently as only 24 months earlier, when Torre could look …
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MLB.com:
Royals sign Zack Greinke to a four-year contract through 2012 — The Kansas City Royals today signed right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke to a four-year contract through the 2012 season. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. — The 25-year old Greinke …
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ESPN.com:
Royals, Greinke agree to four-year, $38M deal — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Right-hander Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals agreed Monday to a $38 million, four-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing next month. — Greinke went 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts for Kansas City last season …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers re-sign infielder Counsell — Veteran passes physical and finalizes one-year contract — MILWAUKEE — Craig Counsell will be back for a fourth season with his hometown team. — The veteran infielder passed a physical exam on Monday and finalized a one-year, $1 million contract to return to the Brewers.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Outfield a question mark for Braves — Francoeur locked in right, but two spots empty as spring nears — ATLANTA — The Braves are just a little more than three weeks away from holding their first full squad workout, and as they enter January's final week, they still haven't finalized plans for two of their outfield spots.
Marc Berman / New York Post:
MARBURY CONFIRMS OFFER FROM CELTICS — BLASTS KNICKS ‘KIDS GAMES’ — The banished Stephon Marbury acknowledged for the first time yesterday he has a verbal commitment from the Celtics - and accused the Knicks of not accepting his latest buyout offer because they don't want him winning a championship in Boston.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays sign Lane, Fahey to Minors deals — Outfielder, infielder both receive invites to Spring Training — TORONTO — The Blue Jays added a pair of players on Monday, signing outfielder Jason Lane and infielder Brandon Fahey to Minor League contracts that included invitations to attend Spring Training with the big league club.
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — This installment considers all transactions reported by MLB between Jan. 17 to 23. The previous installment is available here. — Atlanta Braves — Signed: C Alvin Colina — Baltimore Orioles — Traded: RHP Randor Bierd to Red Sox for RHP David Pauley
Discussion:
Nationals Farm Authority
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers, Byrd closing in on contract — Outfielder is last unsigned player on team to file for arbitration — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are close to signing Marlon Byrd to a one-year contract that would avoid an arbitration hearing. — Byrd is the last unsigned Ranger who filed for arbitration.
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
It's The Hardball Times Season Preview 2009 — Whether you're a fanatical fantasy player, or just want to see what's up with your favorite team, the THT Season Preview 2009 is just for you. — This annotated week in baseball history: Jan. 18-Jan. 24, 1972 — Posted Friday by Richard Barbieri
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Ladies and gentlemen: The MexHex — Introducing — and debunking? — a theory on Hernandez's curse — NEW YORK — So, you all were so sure you knew the reason for the Mets' collapses the last two seasons. Blame it on the bullpen, you said; and the offense disappeared at the least opportune times.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Astros avoid arbitration with Wandy Rodriguez — Nothing signals the approach of spring training like the crack of the bat and the ka-ching of the cash register. While the Rockies have one remaining arbitration case with a date set for Garrett Atkins, the Astros avoided arbitration today …
