Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Looks like Okie back with Sox — Hideki Okajima's departure from the Red Sox may be short lived. A Major League source indicated that Okajima is close to agreeing on a 1-year deal that would keep him in a Red Sox uniform. — Okajima would join lefties Rich Hill, Lenny DiNardo …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Over the Monster, Fanhouse MLB Blog and NESN.com
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Hideki Okajima re-signs — The Boston Red Sox have re-signed left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima to a one-year contract pending completion of a physical exam early next week, a baseball source has confirmed to ESPN.com. — Okajima, 35, is 16-8 with a 3.06 ERA in 254 career relief appearances with the Red Sox.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox, Okajima Agree To One-Year Deal — The Red Sox and reliever Hideki Okajima have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe first reported that the two sides were close to an agreement.
It's About The Money:
The problem with believing everything our eyes see — And Pearlman's counter: … I left the links in the blockquotes above because those links sent me on a multi-hour Google search exercise. My goal: To show that just because a player is larger at 35 than they were at 20 does not automatically mean that chemicals were used.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Bill Conlin / Philly.com:
Jeff Bagwell, Juan Gonzalez belong in Hall of Fame
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's agree to terms with Lee — The Orioles are close to knocking off a big item from their offseason wish list as they have agreed to terms with free agent first baseman Derrek Lee, according to sources. The deal is pending a physical and the terms of the deal aren't currently known …
Discussion:
MASNsports.com, Bottom9 Baseball, Nationals Journal and Fanhouse MLB Blog
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Colon says Rangers, Yanks, Tribe interested — ARLINGTON — Former American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon has not pitched in the Major Leagues since July 24, 2009, but he is still planning a comeback and said there are three teams interested in him.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Nick Collias / MLB Rumors:
Rangers, Yankees, Indians Interested in Bartolo Colon
Discussion:
HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues, Fenway West and Sliding Into Home
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks enter '11 with unfamiliar uncertainty — NEW YORK — For the Yankees, there is only one scoreboard that really matters at the end of each season, and it involves hoisting a championship flag high above Yankee Stadium. — Since there will be no such ceremony when the Yankees put …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Sabernomics:
So Long, From Sabernomics — Well folks, I'm afraid it's come to an end. What started as an experiment nearly seven years ago became more than I anticipated. For the past seven years I've had a place to explore my whimsical ideas on baseball in public, and I've enjoyed having the outlet.
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rox not confirming reports of a CarGo deal — DENVER — For the second time in eight days, the Rockies are not confirming a report from Venezuela that outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is about to sign a lucrative multi-year contract. — El Nacional in Caracas, citing sources linked to Gonzalez …
Discussion:
Purple Row and HardballTalk
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Nats Offer LaRoche Two-Year Deal — 4:51pm: Jen Royle of MASN tweets that the two sides are discussing a multiyear deal in the $8-9MM per season range. Even the low end of that range would represent a higher average annual value than the $21MM LaRoche is reportedly seeking over three years.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Federal Baseball and DC Pro Sports Report
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Germano accepts Triple-A assignment — Approval of Kearns' pact by MLB, Players' Association delayed — CLEVELAND — Indians right-handed reliever Justin Germano has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus. Germano will attend Spring Training with the Tribe as a non-roster invitee.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Miner opts for fresh start with Royals — Tigers had hoped to re-sign rehabbing right-hander — Zach Miner is taking his comeback from Tommy John surgery elsewhere in the AL Central. The former Tigers reliever, a valuable swingman in Detroit for four seasons, agreed to a Minor League contract …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Of Adrian Beltre, Michael Young and Conspiracy Theories — Are the covert Rangers really interested in free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre and have sinister plans for Michael Young? — Or are they just staying around the periphery long enough to drive up the price at the expense of the Angels.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Halos may have re-taken lead in Beltre sweeps
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
