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:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and baseballmusings.com
Eric Ortiz / NESN.com:
2011 Red Sox Will Challenge 1927 Yankees for Title of Greatest Team in Major League History — The Red Sox have won 100 or more games three times in their 110-year existence. — They will make it four in 2011. But this team has the potential to accomplish something even bigger than winning 100 games.
Discussion:
NoMaas.org
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, Camden Chat, Bottom9 Baseball, Nationals Journal and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats said to offer LaRoche two-year deal — Search for first baseman continues as Lee signs with Orioles — WASHINGTON — After missing out on Derrek Lee, who agreed to terms with the Orioles on Friday, the Nationals continue to search for a first baseman.
Discussion:
Nationals Baseball and National Record
RELATED:
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
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Detroit has pieces in place to rock tough Central — Tigers hope returning stars plus additions help beat Twins, Sox — DETROIT — The Tigers led the American League Central for more than four months in 2009 before finally falling in a tiebreaker game. They topped the division for a stretch …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
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
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:
HardballTalk and Purple Row
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.
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
