Top News:
ESPN:
Mat Thornton irritated by Oney's tweets — Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Matt Thornton said recent tweets by manager Ozzie Guillen's son, Oney, about Bobby Jenks were “irritating” and take the focus off baseball. — “I'm not a big fan of the social media, personally,” Thornton said on ESPN 1000's “Talking Baseball.”
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Sox Machine and HardballTalk
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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:
baseballmusings.com, lenNY's Yankees, The Sommer Frieze, Yanks Go Yard and NoMaas.org
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Red Sox excel in crystal ball — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — Now that the various years in review have been filed and published, it's never too soon to get a jump on 2011 with what we'll call the year in preview. So in that spirit, here are five fearless Red Sox …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
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
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Looks like Okajima will return to Red Sox
Looks like Okajima will return to Red Sox
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, HardballTalk, Over the Monster, Fanhouse MLB Blog, NESN.com and Full Count
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox, Okajima Agree To One-Year Deal
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
BAGWELL RISES ABOVE ‘WAR’ — The deadline for voting for the Hall of Fame came and went Friday, and since I like to work on deadline - I have worked on deadline my entire life - I submitted my ballot by fax Friday evening. A year ago I waited until the deadline day, Dec. 31 …
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Chicago Tribune:
Baseball Hall of Fame: Who gets in on Wednesday? — If the Tribune's Hall of Fame voters reflect national sentiment, Roberto Alomar will get in on his second year on the ballot when results are announced Wednesday. Our seven voters were unanimous in naming Alomar on their ballots.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Dionisio Soldevila / MiamiHerald.com:
Police: Orioles' Simon is main suspect in killing — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is the main suspect in a fatal shooting New Year's Eve in the Dominican Republic, police said Sunday. — The pitcher is suspected of killing 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Orioles' Simon suspected in murder … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is the main suspect in the New Year's Eve killing of a man in the Dominican Republic, police said Sunday. — The pitcher shot and killed 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte …
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Bargain hunters cooking up plans at the Hot Stove — The holiday break is over, and now the “second season” of the Hot Stove is about to begin. Here's a look at who might benefit from bargain basement players or January trades: — 1. Tampa Bay — The Rays didn't sign Joaquin Benoit until Feb. 15 …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MetsBlog.com and Mets Merized Online
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Report of $96M Beltre deal premature — The Texas Rangers still are talking with Adrian Beltre but haven't reached an agreement with him, a major-league source said Sunday. — PioDeportes.com, a website based in Beltre's native Dominican Republic, reported Sunday morning …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Full Count, HardballTalk and Halos Heaven
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
O's look to pick up where they left off in '10 — BALTIMORE — While the Hot Stove is still burning, the new year means a new baseball season is just around the corner. — Gone is much of the goodwill the Orioles built up over two strong months under new manager Buck Showalter …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
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Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's agree to terms with Lee
O's agree to terms with Lee
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Camden Chat, MASNsports.com, Fanhouse MLB Blog, Bottom9 Baseball and Nationals Journal
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Crawford says Thanks Tampa Bay in ad — Carl Crawford raised more than a few eyebrows when he said his heart was in Boston during his introductory press conference with the Red Sox last month (and didn't say much of anything about his former Rays team), but Sunday he said thanks to the Tampa Bay area in a half-page ad in the Times.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Colorado hopes consistency leads to progress — DENVER — With the calendar turning to 2011, the Rockies no longer have to face the unanswerable question that hung in the air after the '10 season. — How could a team that had two players finish in the top five in the National League …
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
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Nats Offer LaRoche Two-Year Deal
Nats Offer LaRoche Two-Year Deal
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Federal Baseball and DC Pro Sports Report