Top News:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez turns down Dodgers offer — Free-agent outfielder rejects a one-year, $25-million proposal his agent categorizes as a suggestion. — Manny Ramirez wasted no time rejecting the Dodgers' latest offer, a one-year, $25-million proposal that was presented Sunday to his agent, Scott Boras.
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Dodgers make offer to Manny — A two-year, $45 million offer three months ago didn't get it done. So on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a new offer to Manny Ramirez — for one year and $25 million, according to a major league source. — Ramirez
Discussion:
ESPN.com, Deadspin, MetsBlog.com, Jorge Says No!, The Nationals Enquirer and Mets Merized Online
Drew Silva / MLB Rumors:
Manny Turns Down Dodgers' Second Offer — By Drew Silva [February 3 at 1:33am CST] — 1:33am: Ramirez has turned down the Dodgers' one-year offer, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. — Hernandez lists the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals as teams that are monitoring Ramirez' market.
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Dodgers make second offer to Manny Ramirez: one year, $25 million — This according to a source with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Ned Colletti confirmed that the offer was made last night, but he wouldn't confirm the length or the amount.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
MORE PEREZ FALLOUT: No Manny, No Abreu — The signing of Oliver Perez does just about close the Mets shopping for the offseason. The only items they are still perusing are low-cost alternatives among righty reserve bats and lefty set-up men, the Post has learned.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers make new offer to Manny — Contract said to be worth $25 million for one year — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers tried to break the negotiating logjam with Manny Ramirez over the weekend by making him a new offer, according to general manager Ned Colletti.
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 …
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 …
RELATED:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Mets Stick to the Plan on a Contract for Pérez
Discussion:
The Mets Are Better Than Sex
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.
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Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
It's time for Jeter to step up, defend Rodriguez — The official story is that nearly eight years ago, Alex Rodriguez implied in a magazine story that Derek Jeter's place in a batting order coincided perfectly with the number on his back. Jeter was a No. 2 hitter, A-Rod seemed to be saying …
RELATED:
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:Selig Sees His Salary Climb to Over $18 Million
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Brad Wilkerson — By Tim Dierkes [February 2 at 11:03pm CST] — MLBTR has learned tonight that the Red Sox have signed outfielder Brad Wilkerson to a minor league deal with roster and playing time incentives. Wilkerson, 31, hit .220/.308/.326 in 309 plate appearances for the Mariners and Blue Jays in 2008.
John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:
M's maneuverability limited if big salaries can't be dumped — Ten days hence, the Seattle Mariners begin gathering in Peoria, Ariz. — It's been an off-season of change, including a new general manager, a new manager, a new coaching staff and a revamped roster.
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Jonathan Littman / Yahoo! Sports:
Giambi's testimony lacks blunt force — Buzz up! — SAN FRANCISCO - Jason Giambi told a federal grand jury in 2003 that he didn't know whether Barry Bonds was taking banned substances and that he never gained any information about the home run king's alleged drug regimen from his contacts at BALCO.
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Steve Schrader / Detroit Free Press:
Warning! Matt Millen's on — It was like one of those dire pharmaceutical warnings: … Every time a certain familiar face showed up on camera Sunday during NBC's Super Bowl pregame show, Channel 4 ran a scroll at the bottom of the screen: — “Matt Millen was president of the Lions …
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Wall Street Journal:
Citi Explores Breaking Mets Deal — Bank That Got Bailout Cash Revisits $400 Million Pact to Put Name on Stadium — Citigroup Inc., eager to quell the controversy over how lenders are using government bailout money, is exploring the possibility of backing out of a nearly $400 million marketing deal …
Dodger Thoughts:
Dodger Thoughts: Cheers — Dodger Thoughts is moving. — I'm not a big drinker, but I always wanted to be a regular at a bar. I guess you could thank Cheers for that, although I think the dream transcends a single origin. The dream of belonging, of being recognized, of being heard, being appreciated.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Big moves done, Yanks switch focus — Revamped club eager to see if spending pays off in '09 — NEW YORK — The checkbooks can be safely moved across the street now, their winter workload complete. The last items the Yankees will need to pluck from the old Stadium will be their bats and gloves.
