Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Varitek, Sox agree to deal — Jason Varitek and the Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with an option, a baseball source confirmed to the Globe's Tony Massarotti. — Varitek will earn $5 million in 2009, with the club holding a $5 million option for 2010.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Decision time looming for Varitek, Sox — Captain's future should be determined by the end of Friday — BOSTON — The topic that has engulfed Red Sox Nation for more than three months is finally on the verge of closure. At some point on Friday, Jason Varitek's status …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, blogs.trb.com, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Confessions of a She-Fan and Cursed To First
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Morning update on Varitek — If you've read the latest Jason Varitek update and are expecting an answer by 8:30 a.m., be advised: agent Scott Boras is based on the West Coast, which means an answer may not be coming until perhaps the middle of the day. — According to a source …
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Yankees reached free-agent quota — Unless limit raised, Bombers cannot sign any more Type As or Bs — The most commonly held misconception of this offseason is that the Yankees could have signed pitcher Ben Sheets or could still sign left-fielder Manny Ramirez if only there were a few …
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Ben Jones / MLB Rumors:
Free Agent Quota: 8 Type A/Bs — By Ben Jones [January 30 at 12:30pm CST] — 12:30pm: In an email, Bloom told me it is a combination of eight Type A and Bs (not eight of each) and whether or not the team offered arbitration has nothing to do with the quota.
Joel Sherman / Mets Blog:
Mets sign Maine, avoid arbitration — The Mets have reached agreement with John Maine on a $2.6 million contract, avoiding arbitration, The Post has learned. Maine also can earn $25,000 by pitching 200 innings. Maine is coming off of surgery to remove spurs from his right shoulder …
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Mets sign Maine, avoiding arbitration — Right-hander reportedly agrees to one-year contract — The Mets avoided arbitration with John Maine by signing him to a one-year contract worth $2.6 million, according to the New York Post. — The deal for Maine, eligible for arbitration for the first time, gives him a significant raise.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Opinion: Manny-Mania hits New York City — Last night, a group of 30 die-hard Mets fans gathered outside the SNY studios, on air during the network's Mets Hot Stove show, in what they described as the Million Manny March, while chanting, “Manny, Manny,” with some carrying signs …
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Matt Gagne / NY Daily News:
Manny marchers take Manhattan — Chants of “Man-ny! Man-ny!” drowned out the sound of traffic zipping up Sixth Ave. Thursday night as rabid Mets fans gathered outside SportsNet New York's studios and mugged for the cameras, imploring the Wilpons and Omar Minaya to bring free agent Manny Ramirez to Queens.
Keith Herbert / Newsday:
Pols call for Mets to scrap Citigroup naming rights deal — The Mets' new stadium, Citi Field, has drawn the ire of two members of the House of Representatives. Citigroup is going through with its $400 million stadium naming-rights deal despite its financial troubles. (Newsday / Viorel Flrescu)
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Mets Blog, Mets Merized Online, umpbump.com, Hot Foot, New Jersey Online, Watchdog and The 'Ropolitans
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Joe Torre puts Dodgers in an awkward situation — Just as the Dodgers are gearing up for the new season, their manager is out pitching a controversial book about his days with the Yankees. — It's time for Dodger baseball! — The Dodgers start the countdown to spring training this weekend …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, Associated Press, steinbrennerblog.infozed.com and bronxbanterblog.com
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:David Wells calls Joe Torre a ‘punk’ for telling all in ‘The Yankee Years’
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
Mark Hale / New York Post:
PEDRO PLANS TO USE WBC AS LAST AUDITION — Pedro Martinez's plan is to pitch in the World Baseball Classic and reveal what he can still offer a major league team in 2009, The Post has learned. — Martinez is a free agent, but if the legendary ace doesn't have a team by spring training, the WBC will act as his audition.
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MLB.com:
Cubs, catcher Paul Bako agree to terms on 2009 contract — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and catcher Paul Bako have agreed to terms on a 2009 contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. — Bako, 36, last season set career highs with 30 runs scored, 35 RBI and six home runs in 99 games with the Cincinnati Reds.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Peter Schmuck / The Schmuck Stops Here:
Orioles: Millar time is up — Talked to Kevin Millar tonight on my WBAL show and he confirmed that he has been told the Orioles definitely are going in a new direction and that he will not be coming back in a reserve role. — Not that it's a big surprise.
Canadian Press:
Ridiculed extra-inning rule to be used in World Baseball Classic — NEW YORK — The ridiculed international rule to start an extra inning with two runners on base will be used at this year's World Baseball Classic, where it will be implemented beginning in the 13th inning.
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Tom Koch-Weser / STATS:
WHIFF PROFILE: AARON HEILMAN — On Wednesday, the Mariners and Cubs brokered a three-player deal involving one of the biggest trading chips of the offseason, Aaron Heilman. His stock bottomed-out following a tumultuous 2008 season, when he and the rest of the Mets bullpen seemed destined to fail every time out.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
MLB:
LHP Maholm, Pirates agree on 3 years, $14.5M — Left-hander Paul Maholm avoided an arbitration hearing by reaching a preliminary agreement on a $14.5 million, three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who also finalized a one-year deal with free-agent utilityman Eric Hinske worth about $1.5 million.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
