Top News:
Thomasharding / Hardball in the Rockies:
Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros — The Rockies filled a key spot in their bullpen by acquiring right-hander Matt Lindstrom from the Astros. Full details will come soon. — Lindstrom, who turns 31 on Feb. 11, went 2-5 with a 4.39 ERA for the Astros last season.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Bottom9 Baseball, FanGraphs Baseball, Baseball America, Houston Chronicle, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Mariners blog and Yahoo! Sports
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies trade for Astros' reliever Lindstrom
Rockies trade for Astros' reliever Lindstrom
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Saves king Hoffman at crossroads as '11 looms — Closer enjoys offseason, weighs his options for next season — MILWAUKEE — Trevor Hoffman is 43 years old, but still open to the idea pitching in 2011. Physically, he knows he could do it. Emotionally, he's not so sure …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
New York Mets may use D. J. Carrasco in back end of starting rotation to start 2011 season — In an offseason dedicated to finding creative solutions to their dearth of pitching, the Mets might already have signed free-agent rotation help: D.J. Carrasco, who the Mets have not ruled out as a back-end starter …
Discussion:
Mets Fever, HardballTalk, Mike Silva's … and MetsBlog.com
Fox Sports:
Don't exclude steroid users from Hall — Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. He is in his 35th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and appears on pre- and postgame shows for Colorado Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Now is not the time for Rays to deal Garza — No sooner was the ink dry on Cliff Lee's new contract with the Phillies than the drumbeat began: with the Yankees and Rangers still seeking pitching, surely one of them would find a way to land the Rays' Matt Garza.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees one of three teams pursuing Damon
Yankees one of three teams pursuing Damon
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
GM: No ‘clear role’ for Johnny Damon
GM: No ‘clear role’ for Johnny Damon
Discussion:
HardballTalk, TYU, lenNY's Yankees and Bronx Baseball Daily
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Reach Agreement With Arthur Rhodes — The Rangers have agreed to terms with left-hander Arthur Rhodes. Steve Phillips of AOL Fanhouse (Twitter link) reports the deal is for one year with a vesting option for 2012, and the contract will be finalized once Rhodes passes a physical.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Redleg Nation
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Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Doc thrilled to have Christmas song about him — PHILADELPHIA — Turn on his radio and Phillies ace Roy Halladay can hear thousands of Christmas songs. — There are the favorites from crooners like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, remakes of standards like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night” …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Dinner set to toast Cardinals, roast La Russa — TOWER GROVE — The St. Louis chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America is giving its annual dinner a spirited twist this season. — No, not just Albert Pujols sharing the Man of the Year Award or shifting the dinner to a different day.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
For Ortiz, Christmas is all about the kids — Big Papi takes delight in bringing smiles to children's faces — FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — On a Saturday morning in mid-December, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz walked into his restaurant — Big Papi's Grille — and had a quick and good-natured greeting for his co-host at a holiday event.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper to get extensions — (12-23) 21:42 PST — The Giants are close to bringing back two of their most prized free agents: television broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow. — The club has reached tentative agreements on six-year extensions for the well-regarded duo.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Bronx? Cooperstown? Pettitte Is a Man of Many Questions — If Andy Pettitte has indeed thrown his last pitch, he will retire with more victories than Whitey Ford, a better winning percentage than Bob Feller, Juan Marichal and Tom Seaver, and the most postseason wins in baseball history.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies ink three to Minor League deals — DENVER — The Rockies have agreed to terms on Minor League contracts with three players, outfielder Jeff Salazar and infielders Matt Macri and Tug Hulett, player development director Marc Gustafson said Thursday. — Salazar, who played 19 games …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors