Top News:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Dan Wheeler — The Red Sox have signed reliever Dan Wheeler to a one-year contract worth $3MM guaranteed. The deal includes a $3MM option (no buyout) for 2012 that can vest with 65 appearances. Another $250K can be earned with 75 appearances. Wheeler has passed his physical.
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Sources: Dan Wheeler to join Red Sox — BOSTON — The Great Bullpen Reconstruction continued Saturday, with news that the Red Sox had come to terms with another veteran setup man, right-hander Dan Wheeler, according to team sources. — Wheeler, one of the reliable pieces Joe Maddon employed …
Discussion:
Mets Today and Fire Brand of the …
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox round out relief remake by adding Dan 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:
Over the Monster, Twinkie Town and The Joy of Sox
Steve Phillips / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Source: Dan Wheeler, Red Sox Agree to 1-Year, $3 Million Deal — Free-agent reliever Dan Wheeler has agreed to a one-year deal with Boston Red Sox, FanHouse has learned. — Wheeler, who passed a physical on Friday, will receive $3 million from the Red Sox in 2011, according to a source.
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs
Sam Mellinger / Kansas City Star:
Greinke changes agents, still wants to be traded — The Zack Greinke saga continues, with small details changing this week, but the outline remains the same. — Greinke changed agents from SFX Baseball to Casey Close of CAA, who also counts the Yankees' Derek Jeter among his clients.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and Federal Baseball
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JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Sources: Marlins, Nolasco reach impasse in contract talks — The Florida Marlins and right-hander Ricky Nolasco have arrived at a stalemate in negotiations for a long-term contract, major-league sources told FOXSports.com. — The impasse sets up a number of possibilities for Nolasco …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, The Goessling Game and JSOnline
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, MLB Rumors and LA Times Sports Blog
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Pieces of his mind — Picked up pieces while listening to Mitch Miller Christmas carols . . . When the Patriots were auditioning kickers they called retired Revolution star Taylor Twellman. Now with Comcast SportsNet, Twellman turned down the opportunity, telling the team, “I can't take another hit to the head.”
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays - still - not looking to deal a starter — With Cliff Lee making the unexpected decision to return to Philadelphia, Carl Pavano the next best option on the free agent market and Zack Grienke reportedly accelerating a trade from Kansas City, the Rays are going to get even more calls on their starting pitchers.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and JSOnline
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 …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
JSOnline:
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers declared out; Flynn will start — By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel — Providence, R.I. - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been ruled out of Sunday's game and backup Matt Flynn will start against the New England Patriots Sunday, a club spokesman said when reached by telephone this morning.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, NESN.com and ProFootballTalk
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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Ian Begley / ESPN:
Omar Minaya, Sandy Alderson to talk — NEW YORK — Former New York Mets GM Omar Minaya said he plans to sit down with current Mets GM Sandy Alderson after the New Year to discuss a potential new role in the organization. — Minaya told ESPNNewYork.com that he has multiple offers on the table.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Kranepool Society and Mets Merized Online
Pete Kerzel / The Goessling Game:
2B Antonelli blogs that he's joining Nationals — You've got to love the Internet revolution. How else would we know when players decide on a new team? — Second baseman Matt Antonelli chose his personal blog to deliver the news this afternoon that he's decided to accept a contract offer from the Nationals.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Near deal with Hudson, Padres add Bartlett — San Diego completes deal with Tampa Bay for shortstop — SAN DIEGO — In one fell swoop on Friday, the Padres may have addressed two of their biggest needs of the offseason — finding a starting shortstop and second baseman.
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Padres Acquire Jason Bartlett