Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Vinas, one of 'Hank's Yanks,' gets Minors deal — Ace of Steinbrenner's youth ballclub has chance at pro career — NEW YORK — For Leonel Vinas, it had been enough to spend a summer wearing a uniform for “Hank's Yanks,” the youth ballclub sponsored by Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Rothschild will work with A.J. on fixes — The Yankees signed A.J. Burnett to be their No. 2 starting pitcher for the 2009 season. Had everything gone perfectly for Brian Cashman and Co. this offseason, Burnett would be the team's fifth starter for 2011. — At the moment, however …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and The Sommer Frieze
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Rangers eye Brandon Webb — The Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals continued to show strong interest in Brandon Webb on Tuesday, while a third reported suitor, the Chicago Cubs, fell off the pace in their pursuit of the free-agent starter. — A source confirmed that Webb …
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Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies — The Texas Rangers and former National League Cy Young winner Brandon Webb continue to work toward a contract for next season, and sources said that there are plans for him to speak later today on the phone with manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux.
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MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets wait for pitcher prices to drop, have expressed preliminary …
Mets wait for pitcher prices to drop, have expressed preliminary …
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MLB Rumors
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal
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Lone Star Ball and HardballTalk
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Patterson among six to sign with Blue Jays — Club brings aboard outfielder with Minors deal, spring invite — TORONTO — The Blue Jays completed some last minute holiday shopping Tuesday morning by signing outfielder Corey Patterson and five other players to Minor League contracts with invites to Spring Training.
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Batter's Box Interactive …
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Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
Currently at impasse with LaRoche, O's turn attention to Lee — While the Orioles haven't abandoned hope of signing free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, their inability to get a deal done has prompted them to renew talks with Derrek Lee, according to multiple sources.
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MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Jenks finalizes two-year deal with Red Sox — BOSTON — The Red Sox have officially landed Bobby Jenks with a two-year, $12 million deal that was agreed on last week and finalized Tuesday. — Jenks broke into the Major Leagues with the White Sox during the 2005 season, and spent the last five seasons as their closer.
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Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports and joy of sox
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Five votes for the Hall of Fame — Roberto Alomar played for seven teams from 1980 to 2004. — My first Hall of Fame ballot was submitted today. As promised, here is who I voted for: — Roberto Alomar — Bert Blyleven — Barry Larkin — Alan Trammell — Tim Raines — Explanation
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Bleed Cubbie Blue, YFSF and HardballTalk
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
O'Dowd, Rox patient in pursuit of relief help — DENVER — It looks as if Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd will wait until after the holidays to continue his shopping for a relief pitcher — the last big-ticket item on the club's list. — The Rockies have been exploring free agency …
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MLB Rumors
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.
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baseballmusings.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Royals Review and Fox Sports
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Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels pull offer to Adrian Beltre off table, but ‘door is still open’ to sign third baseman — The Angels have pulled their free-agent offer to Adrian Beltre, a deal that was believed to be in the five-year, $70-million range, but a major league source familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday that …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Claim Roque Mercedes — The Brewers claimed righty reliever Roque Mercedes off waivers from the Diamondbacks, tweets MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. This gives the Brewers 37 players on the 40-man roster. Mercedes had been designated for assignment by Arizona on Friday along …