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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Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Brian Cashman needs a new plan to help the Yankees rotation now that Cliff Lee is on the Phillies — Brian Cashman is finding out the hard way what it's like to devote your entire offseason strategy to landing the big fish - in this case, a certain free-agent southpaw - only to see that fish end up in a Phillies uniform.
Discussion:
New York Times and BronxBanterBlog.com
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Rothschild will work with A.J. on fixes
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, The Sommer Frieze and Boston Herald
Rich / Baseball Analysts:
The Internet Zealot Responds — One Blyleven Internet supporter is such a zealot that he has guessed as to the motives for the non-support, and even on occasion taken to outing non-supporters or ridiculing them, perhaps in an attempt at persuasion. Let me just say that I have nothing against Blyleven …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lifting a bit of weight — The Hall of Fame ballot goes in the mail today with check marks next to the names of Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, and Jack Morris. — We won't know who's in until January, but this year's ballot has some new challenges because the Steroid Boys are stepping forward in large numbers.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and It's About The Money
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Five votes for the Hall of Fame
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk and YFSF
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Yankees, Red Sox hit with luxury tax — Only two teams — the Red Sox and Yankees — will be forced to pay Major League Baseball's luxury tax. — The Associated Press reported Tuesday that New York and Boston have exceeded the league's payroll threshold and will be charged an additional tax …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Jenks finalizes two-year deal with Red Sox
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs, Boston Globe, Over the Monster, joy of sox and Yahoo! Sports
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Projo Sox Blog, Federal Baseball, OMGreds, Postcards from Elysian Fields, mlbbuzz and MLB.com
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Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson will likely not sign any players until January, sources say — New Mets GM Sandy Alderson has not made a splash so far this winter, and that likely won't change very soon. Sources say the Mets plan to remain dark until January.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets wait for pitcher prices to drop, have expressed preliminary …
Discussion:
Mets Fever and MLB Rumors
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Phillips, Stubbs likely leadoff candidates — CINCINNATI — This month's search for a true leadoff hitter by the Reds essentially concluded in a cul-de-sac that brought them to exactly where they were when they started. — “We haven't found anybody available that is to our liking,” …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Sabernomics:
What's Wrong with Replacement-Level Valuing of Players — In my previous post on 15 tenets of sabermetrics, my response to one tenet received the bulk of the comments. I showed that the talent of the league is distributed normally, and the assumption that there is an abundance …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jason Wilde / 540 ESPN Milwaukee:
Rodgers: 'I'm baaaaaaacckkkk' — GREEN BAY - The text message was brief and to the point, and the only thing easier to read Tuesday evening was the excitement coming from Aaron Rodgers' iPhone. — I'm baaaaaaacckkkk. — Yes, after seeing his 46-game consecutive starts streak …
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.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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ESPN:
Auto Update: Off — Welcome to ESPNNewYork.com! On Tuesday, New York Mets writer Adam Rubin will stop by to take your baseball questions. — Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com and Mets Fever
Barry Petchesky / Deadspin:
This May Or May Not Be Rex Ryan's Wife Making Foot-Fetish Videos (UPDATE) — There's a celebrity in the foot-fetish world who posts videos with titles like “Hot Mature Sexy Feet.” The videos feature a woman who looks like Jets coach Rex Ryan's wife, Michelle — and, in one, a man offscreen who sounds like Rex.
Discussion:
NESN.com, CBS New York and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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:
Baseball Prospectus, Fox Sports and baseballmusings.com
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