Top News:
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Sources: Greinke asks Royals for trade — Zack Greinke wants to be traded, and the Kansas City Royals intend to grant his wish. — Greinke fired his agent on Friday, the clearest indication yet of the ace right-hander's desire to be sent to another club.
Discussion:
Confessions of a She-Fan, Federal Baseball, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, JSOnline, MLB Rumors and Chicago Breaking Sports
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' owner Arte Moreno has his limits — Moreno says he's willing to spend, but $142 million for Carl Crawford was too much if the team wants to keep prices reasonable. — Angels owner Arte Moreno, right, waves while talking to outfielder Torii Hunter during a spring training session in February.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels owner explains refusal to meet Crawford's asking price; team makes ‘significant’ offer to Beltre — The Angels never made a formal contract offer to outfielder Carl Crawford, and owner Arte Moreno said Friday that, contrary to previous reports, he was not willing to match the seven-year …
Discussion:
Full Count, Boston Globe, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Halos Heaven
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox round out relief remake by adding Wheeler — The Red Sox have reached an agreement with reliever Dan Wheeler to help shore up their bullpen. (AP) — The Red Sox bullpen was an unquestioned weakness in 2010, the team's 4.24 ERA ranking 12th in the American League and 24th in the majors.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and The Joy of Sox
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Mike Bauman / MLB.com:
Jenks makes Red Sox a lot more formidable
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Padres Acquire Jason Bartlett — The Padres have acquired Jason Bartlett from the Rays, tweets Marty Caswell of XX1090 Sports Radio. San Diego will also receive a player to be named later from Tampa Bay in exchange for Brandon Gomes, Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos, and Cole Figueroa.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Near deal with Hudson, Padres add Bartlett
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Orlando Hudson signs with Padres
Orlando Hudson signs with Padres
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Yahoo! Sports and MLB Rumors
Matt Antonelli / The Official Blog of Matt Antonelli:
THE DECISION... Hey guys! The weeks seem to be flying by the last few months. I really can't believe Christmas is only a week away. I still haven't gone shopping yet, but that isn't anything new. When it comes to holiday shopping I rank towards the top of the list of procrastinators.
Discussion:
NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK and Federal Baseball
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Pete Kerzel / The Goessling Game:
2B Antonelli blogs that he's joining Nationals
2B Antonelli blogs that he's joining Nationals
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Mo will try to convince Pettitte to return — Mariano Rivera has plans to call an old friend. — “I might try to reach him soon,” Rivera said Thursday of Andy Pettitte, who continues to deliberate about pitching in 2011. — “I want to hear what he's doing, what he wants to do,” Rivera said.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
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Jim Armstrong / All Things Rockies:
Francis' decision expected soon — I figured it would be today. If not today, then early next week. By then, Jeff Francis figures to be a Rockie or a former Rockie. — Francis has responded to a few texts this offseason, but hasn't commented on his contractual situation.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, ESPN and MLB Rumors
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Blue Jay lineup an ongoing experiment — Alex Anthopoulos, the Blue Jays' 34-year-old GM, is no longer a rookie. After being forced to hit the ground running with the Roy Halladay trade last December, maybe he never was. As such, Anthopoulos will be the first to admit his club …
Mike Fast / Baseball Prospectus:
BP Unfiltered — What does Pettitte throw? — I recently wrote an article for ESPN Insider about Andy Pettitte's potential role in firming up the Yankee rotation in their competition for the American League East title in 2011. The Baseball Prospectus version of the article is here.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Sports Illustrated:
Two best remaining targets on the market … This offseason has been, for the most part, a mystery. The Carl Crawford signing with the Red Sox was slightly surprising in that most folks had him pegged for the Angels, the Jayson Werth deal with the Nationals was very surprising in that nobody …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Texas Rangers
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals targeting Lee to fill first-base void — NEW YORK — The Nationals are “actively” pursuing free-agent first baseman Derrek Lee, according to a baseball source, while another indicated that Lee is the club's top target to play the position. The Nationals are one of several clubs interested in Lee's services.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors