Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Jeff Bagwell tires of steroids talk — Former Astros slugger addresses accusations, physical appearance, Hall of Fame — Jeff Bagwell believes lifting weights like a bodybuilder shortened his career. … “I never used [steroids], and I'll tell you exactly why: If I could hit between 30 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Palmeiro on Hall of Fame: ‘I hope the voters judge my career fairly’ … Five years ago, after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro said that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs and that he was a victim of a tainted vial …
Discussion:
USA Today, HardballTalk, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Deadspin
Fox Sports:
Steroids change game for Hall voters — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — I used to love voting for the Hall of Fame. Now I hate it. — Don't get me wrong …
Fox Sports:
Angels front-runners to land Beltre — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — The Angels, more than ever, look like the front-runners to sign free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, NESN.com, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Angels blog
Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
Hall of Fame: The Second Round — OK, so this is the second round of Hall of Fame week — these are the players who, for me, are good enough to merit some extra consideration for the Hall but who didn't quite make it to the final cut. — Harold Baines: He played 22 seasons.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Larry Granillo / Hardball Times:
Is collusion to blame for Jack Morris' HOF case? — Jack Morris was the winningest pitcher of the 1980s. With a 162-119 record between 1980 and 1989, Morris was the pitcher of record in more club victories than any other pitcher in the same time frame. Morris also started the most games …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, baseballmusings.com, Wezen Ball, ESPN and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Yankees need Andy Pettitte says team president Randy Levine, but Mark Teixeira thinks he will retire — Now that Cliff Lee is not a Yankee, it is extra important to bring back Andy Pettitte, team president Randy Levine says. 'Every day I hope Andy comes back," says Levine.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, BronxBanterBlog.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Octavio Dotel, Blue Jays agree to deal — Reliever Octavio Dotel and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal Tuesday, the player's agent told ESPNdeportes.com. — The agent, Dominic Torres, said the deal includes a $3.5 million team option in 2012.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NESN.com, ESPN and Associated Press
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
The Mag: Buster Posey is NEXT — The Giants catcher is ESPN The Magazine's next big thing in MLB — It hasn't been easy being a Buster. Think about it: Busters are usually pets, mostly dogs, and sometimes you're asked if you're housebroken. People shout, “Hey, watch it, Buster!” as if they're the first to think of it.
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Honoring legends who passed during 2010 — From Feller to Steinbrenner, baseball lost far too many greats … A year that has prompted too many days of sadness in our game is about to finish its business and go away. Good riddance to 2010. It hurt us. It will hurt us into 2011.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Hot Stove / Cool Music returns — Theo Epstein and Peter Gammons are hosting Hot Stove/Cool Music again with the events set for Jan. 14 and 15. — On Jan. 14, the annual roundtable discussion at Fenway Park will include Epstein, Brian Sabean, Mike Rizzo, Curt Schilling, and John Farrell.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com:
Bullpen banter — I'm in between breakfast courses and wanted to check in real quick. — The first course included fried ham and French toast made with gourmet Italian panettone bread. — The eggs are cooking. Over easy. — I'll need the jaws of life to get out of these pants.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Orioles Insider
Stephanie Storm / Baseball America:
2010 Minor League Manager Of The Year — CLEVELAND—When Mike Sarbaugh found out that he had been named Minor League Manager of the Year, his first thought was that it must be a mistake. — “You sure they got the right guy?” he asked. — Sarbaugh was only half-joking.