Top News:
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 — 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.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, joy of sox and Yahoo! Sports
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, The Sommer Frieze and Boston Herald
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:
Projo Sox Blog, Federal Baseball, OMGreds, MLB Rumors, Postcards from Elysian Fields and mlbbuzz
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Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies
Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies
Discussion:
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 …
Discussion:
Mets Fever and MLB Rumors
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal
Rangers, Webb could be close to a deal
Discussion:
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.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …, HardballTalk and Sports Illustrated
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
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk and YFSF
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.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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 …
Discussion:
MLB.com, mlbbuzz, Full Count, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog and 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.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, baseballmusings.com, Fox Sports and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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