Top News:
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
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Jeremy Greenhouse / Baseball Analysts:
The Year in PITCHf/x Calibration — This week, I handed in potentially the final paper of my academic career. It was titled, “The History of PITCHf/x.” That is to say that I greatly enjoy thinking about, reading about, and writing about PITCHf/x data. So I don't mean to cast PITCHf/x …
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:
HardballTalk, Mets Fever, 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
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
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros — DENVER — The Rockies filled a key spot in their bullpen by acquiring right-hander Matt Lindstrom from the Astros on Thursday for two Minor League pitchers — left-hander Wes Musick, a former University of Houston standout, and right-hander Jonnathan Aristil.
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Thomasharding / Hardball in the Rockies:
Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros
Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros
Discussion:
MLB.com, Bottom9 Baseball, FanGraphs Baseball, Baseball America, Houston Chronicle, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Mariners blog and Yahoo! Sports
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies trade for Astros' reliever Lindstrom
Rockies trade for Astros' reliever Lindstrom
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Associated Press:
AP Sources: Padres Agree to 1-Year Deal With Hawpe — SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms of a one-year contract with Brad Hawpe to play first base, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. — The people spoke on condition of anonymity …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, baseballmusings.com and SBNation.com
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, Redleg Nation and HardballTalk
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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
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.
RELATED:
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
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