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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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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?
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.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Pedro says he's received offers — Righty declines to identify bidders, but claims Mets not among them — The availability of Pedro Martinez as a free agent has prompted interest among big league clubs, according to the veteran right-hander. With less than three weeks remaining …
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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.
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
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Giants could ultimately be in mix for Manny — Only Scott Boras knows for sure what offers Manny Ramirez may or may not have, but it appears that the San Francisco Giants are the only team standing between Ramirez and a capitulation that the slugger might feel is utterly embarrassing.
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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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks sign Bruney to one-year deal — Righty reliever avoids arbitration with $1.25 million contract — NEW YORK — No more obstacles stand between now and Spring Training. The Yankees cleared the last of them on Friday, signing their final arbitration-eligible player, Brian Bruney, to a one-year deal for a reported $1.25 million.
Discussion:
Yankees Rumors
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.
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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.
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
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
