Top News:
Rany / Rany on the Royals:
Greinke. Gone. — I've got to hand it to Dayton Moore - I didn't think he could do it. I didn't think he could find anyone to take Yuniesky Betancourt off his hands, and I didn't think he had it in him to admit he made a mistake in acquiring Yuni in the first place. And he did.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Joe Posnanski and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Brewers core players all under 30 — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — Leftover notes from the Zack Greinke trade, as compiled from discussions with major-league sources:
Discussion:
Royals Review, JSOnline, Joe Posnanski, ESPN and Jeff Pearlman
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Blue Jays content to bide time after striking out on Greinke
Blue Jays content to bide time after striking out on Greinke
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Chris Cwik / FanGraphs Baseball:
Are the Brewers the Favorite in the Central?
Are the Brewers the Favorite in the Central?
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and Brew Beat
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets wait for pitcher prices to drop, have expressed preliminary interest in Freddy Garcia: source — Freddy Garcia spends a brief stint in the Mets organization in 2009. While healing from shoulder issues, Garcia endures two ineffective appearances for Triple-A Buffalo, and is released.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal — The Rangers and Brandon Webb could be getting close to a deal. — Word is Webb is in the Metroplex and has met with both manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux. Word is that his agent, Jonathan Mauer, will have further discussions …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and mlbbuzz
Stan Hochman / Philly.com:
One nickname for Phillies' aces rises to top — IF YOU want to create a nifty nickname for a player, a team or part of a team, you have to think like a bride. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. — Well, maybe not too blue because the kids are gonna …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Crashburn Alley and baseballmusings.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats in mix for Pavano, maybe not for Webb — NEW YORK — The Cubs and Rangers have jumped ahead of the Nationals in the Brandon Webb sweepstakes, according to a source. No reason was given as to why the Nats fell behind in the race. — Washington was thought to be the front-runners …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ankiel lands one-year contract with Nationals
Ankiel lands one-year contract with Nationals
Discussion:
The Goessling Game and The Nationals Enquirer
Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
Nationals sign OF Rick Ankiel to one-year deal
Nationals sign OF Rick Ankiel to one-year deal
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Mr. Irrelevant …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Cash proceeding as though Andy won't return — Andy Pettitte has made retirement contemplation a way of life. This marks the fifth straight offseason in which he hasn't held a firm commitment to pitch the subsequent year, and in each of those, he has considered retirement with various degrees of seriousness.
RELATED:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets' Rebuilding Could Get Boost if Playoffs Expand — It is just the Mets' luck, stuck in the division of dynasties. The Atlanta Braves tormented them from 1995 to 2005, rolling to 11 consecutive National League East titles. The Philadelphia Phillies took over in 2007, piling on the misery, and have won the last four.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, OnTheBlack.com and Hot Foot
Yahoo / Santa Rosa Press-Democrat:
Feeling good about saying no to McGwire — I've changed my mind on something. I want you to know that. — I'm peering at this year's Hall of Fame ballot from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, of which I am a member. About a week remains before I have to fax in my ballot …
Discussion:
Tedquarters and HardballTalk
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies sign Buckner to Minors contract — Right-hander's deal includes invitation for Spring Training — DENVER — The Rockies have signed former Royals and D-backs right-hander Billy Buckner to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, the team announced Monday.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Purple Row and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Strasbug ‘on track’ in elbow rehab … WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg says his rehabilitation is “on track” and that he hopes to start throwing a few weeks before spring training. — The Washington Nationals pitcher whose sensational rookie season was cut short by reconstructive elbow surgery …
RELATED:
Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
Stephen Strasburg expects to start throwing before start of spring training
Stephen Strasburg expects to start throwing before start of spring training
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Paul Francis Sullivan / Hardball Times:
Instant replay for balls and strikes — I am a big advocate for instant replay in baseball and I have been long before the rash of dreadful calls in the 2009 postseason and the Armando Galarraga/Jim Joyce episode. And while I respect different opinions of any topic, I have yet to hear …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
mdn.mainichi.jp:
Baseball: Ichiro looks back on 10th season in majors — SEATTLE (Kyodo) — In 2010, Ichiro Suzuki extended his major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons to 10. — The Seattle Mariners star also tied Pete Rose's career mark of 10 200-hit seasons while making his 10th All-Star Game appearance and winning his 10th Gold Glove.
Discussion:
Mariners blog, Fanhouse MLB Blog, Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Peavy's rehab session turns heads — CHICAGO — Those White Sox fans still hoping for the perfect gift during this holiday season might have just received such a present from pitching coach Don Cooper. — Cooper spoke Monday to MLB.com about a Jake Peavy rehabilitation throwing session he witnessed in Chicago about two weeks ago.
Discussion:
HardballTalk