Top News:
ESPN.com:
Cubs trade twice: Hill to Orioles, Wuertz to A's — CHICAGO — The Cubs traded right-handed reliever Michael Wuertz to the Oakland Athletics for a pair of minor leaguers Monday and sent left-hander Rich Hill, their starter in Game 3 of the division series two years ago, to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named.
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Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
A's acquire reliever Wuertz from Cubs — Deal for pair of Minor League prospects adds bullpen depth — OAKLAND — As recently as a couple of weeks ago, the A's seemed poised to enter Spring Training with five bullpen jobs available. Now there are three.
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Orioles trade for left-hander Hill — Starter acquired from Cubs for player to be named later — BALTIMORE — The Orioles' starting rotation started to take a more rounded shape on Monday, when they acquired southpaw starter Rich Hill from the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's get pitcher Hill in trade with Cubs — Acquired for player to be named later, LHP will compete for spot in starting rotation; Burres designated for assignment — Rich Hill issued 18 walks in 19 2/3 innings with the Chicago Cubs in 2008, going 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA in five starts before being sent to the minors.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
METS REACH TERMS WITH PEREZ — The Mets have reached agreement with Oliver Perez on a three-year, $36 million contract that will be finalized when the left-hander passes a physical, the Post has learned. — The Mets now know the likely composition of their rotation with Perez joining Johan Santana …
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ESPN.com:
Sources: Mets to re-sign lefty Perez for 3 years — Left-hander Oliver Perez will be taking the hill for the New York Mets again next season. — Perez and the Mets agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal, sources told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
ESPN.com:
MLB commish Selig paid more than $18M in '07 — NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig made more than all but three of his sport's players in 2007. — Selig received a raise of about $3 million to nearly $17.5 million that year, according to Major League Baseball's latest tax return.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, MLB FanHouse, Can't Stop The Bleeding, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Rays of Light
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Eric Fisher / SportsBusiness Journal:
Selig's pay climbs past $18 million — MLB Commissioner Bud Selig earned $18.35 million for the league's fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2007, an amount up 22 percent from the prior year and one that again places him among the highest-paid individuals in all of sports.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays offer Millar Minor League deal — Slugger likely to wait before accepting any offer for 2009 — TORONTO — As this strange offseason of economic uncertainty nears its close and pitchers and catchers prepare to travel to Arizona and Florida for Spring Training's rapidly approaching reporting dates …
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Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Heyman “Breaks” Another Story — Oh who would ever want to be king? - Coldplay, Viva La Vida — Jon Heyman has done it again. He broke another story on Friday when reporting that Jason Varitek had “reached a two-year agreement with the Red Sox.” — In typical Heyman fashion …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers near deal with Guardado — Veteran would give Texas another left-handed option in bullpen — ARLINGTON — With less than two weeks to go before Spring Training, the Rangers seem more likely to add reliever Eddie Guardado than starter Ben Sheets to their pitching staff when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Floyd, Hernandez on Towers' wish list — The long list of unsigned free agents could produce two players for the Padres - left-handed hitter Cliff Floyd and starting pitcher Livan Hernandez. — Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said Thursday night the Padres were interested in the pair.
