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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
The story behind The Yankee Years … SI.com: There has been some initial confusion over the authorship of this book. Unlike your previous collaboration with Joe Torre, Chasing the Dream, written after the 1996 season, this is not a traditional as-told-to biography.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Torre Says He Is Proud of ‘The Yankee Years’ — At one point Friday on “Larry King Live,” a montage of highlights showed the Yankees clinching the World Series. Joe Torre, who managed those teams, smiled as a championship ring flashed for the CNN cameras.
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Bouton: No clubhouse ‘sanctity’ — Did Joe Torre's book violate the sanctity of the Yankee clubhouse, particularly with his criticism of Alex Rodriguez? The man who pioneered the candid sports memoir is amused by the question. — “What's the big deal?
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Sox strike deal with Varitek, still seek young catcher — From the pursuit of Mark Teixeira to the retention of Jason Varitek, the Red Sox offseason effectively drew to a close today. The team's roster is all but set, the relationship with its captain ultimately preserved.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Sources: Varitek, Red Sox reach one-year deal — It took nearly three months, but the Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement to bring back catcher Jason Varitek on a one-year, $5 million contract, pending a physical and the execution of final details, two major league sources said Friday.
John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:
Mariners showing an interest in Cubs' Hill — Conventional baseball wisdom says you can never have too many pitchers. — Apparently that's a belief that Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik carries with him. — The Mariners, who just completed a trade with the Cubs that landed …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Paul Bako signs to be Chicago Cubs backup catcher — Cubs also in talks to send Rich Hill to Orioles — A couple of old friends are helping the Cubs make final roster adjustments about two weeks before spring training opens in Mesa, Ariz. — Not only did the Cubs sign backup catcher Paul Bako …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees sign Bruney — There will be no arbitration cases as Brian Bruney agreed to a one-year contract.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pinch hitting: Statistically Speaking — January is traditionally a slow month for baseball news. So for the second year in a row, we will showcase other blogs with a series of pinch hitters. — Next up is Dan from Statistically Speaking. — Dan is a freshman business major at Cornell.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Byrd, Rangers avoid arbitration — Outfielder agrees to base salary of $3.06 million for 2009 — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have settled all their arbitration cases after reaching an agreement with outfielder Marlon Byrd on Friday. — Byrd agreed to a base salary of $3.06 million.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Mark Shanahan / Boston Globe:
Sox owner Henry is engaged — Red Sox owner John Henry is engaged to girlfriend Linda Pizzuti. — Henry, whose divorce from his second wife, Peggy, was finalized last year, proposed to Pizzuti in New York, and the pair is planning to get married in June.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joe DeMayo / Mike Silva's NY Baseball Digest:
Rumor Mill: Oliver Perez, Manny, Etc. — According to a league source with knowledge of the team's plans, if the Mets do not have Oliver Perez either locked up, or having made huge strides in negotiations by the end of this coming weekend, they are likely to move on to other options.
