Top News:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Adrian Beltre, Rangers close — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Texas Rangers and free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre are close to completing terms on a multiyear deal, a source told ESPNdeportes.com on Sunday. — “They are still talking and have not completed the details …
Discussion:
USA Today, Fanhouse MLB Blog, HardballTalk, Mariners blog and Angels blog
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Roundup: No agreement between Texas, Beltre — ARLINGTON — Rangers officials said Sunday they do not have an agreement with free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. There appears to be some mutual interest on both sides, but nothing is remotely imminent. — A report out of the Dominican Republic …
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze, Lone Star Ball, Full Count and Angels blog
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Reports of Texas Rangers deal with Beltre called premature by source
Reports of Texas Rangers deal with Beltre called premature by source
Discussion:
Purple Row and Angels blog
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Report of $96M Beltre deal premature
Report of $96M Beltre deal premature
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Full Count, HardballTalk and Halos Heaven
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies' CarGo contract talk persists as ad campaign revealed — Talks are continuing to sign young Rockies star Carlos Gonzalez to a long-term deal. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post) — UPDATE 12:54 p.m. | Adds confirmation from Carlos Gonzalez's publicist on projected contract values.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Purple Row
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Agree To Extend Carlos Gonzalez — The Rockies have agreed to an extension with Carlos Gonzalez. The outfielder's Twitter account announced that a contract “is almost a fact” and confirmed that it will be in the seven-year, $80MM range. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says it sounds …
Discussion:
Angels blog and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Aloha, Andy? Pettitte decision expected this week — Now that the holidays are over and Andy Pettitte has had more than enough time to mull over his future, the Yankees expect to hear from him this week on whether or not he will return to pitch in 2011. According to a team official …
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Wednesday's Cooperstown results today — Yup, it's that time of the year again. On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, Cooperstown will announce the results of this year's annual BBWAA voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame. And then we'll know who goes in and who stays out. — But why wait until then to find out?
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, Red Hot Mama, Where Have You Gone … and Bucs Dugout
Sports Illustrated:
New Year's resolutions for fifty of the biggest names in baseball … Here are 50 New Year's resolutions I'd like to see. — 1. Bud Selig. I will not to push for expanded replay, certainly not beyond the foul lines, because of baseball's beauties is that it is played at its own pace …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and HardballTalk
Mike Sielski / Wall Street Journal:
There's Reason to Be Optimistic — Will Three Proven Lieutenants in the Mets' Front Office Lead to Better Decision-Making or Chaos? — Early in the summer, Paul DePodesta read a book that intrigued him. Its title was “Chasing Stars.” Its author was Boris Groysberg, an associate professor at Harvard Business School.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mack's Mets, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Royals invite top prospects to Spring Training — The Royals' deep prospect pool will be on display when Spring Training camp gets under way next month. — A total of 23 non-roster invitations to big league camp have been extended by the club, and six of those went to players ranked …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jenifer Langosch / By Gosh, It's Langosch:
Burres back with Bucs — Brian Burres has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Pirates that includes an invitation to Spring Training. Pittsburgh now has 15 non-roster invitees set to compete for roster spots beginning in February. — Burres, who made 20 appearances for Pittsburgh in 2010 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Pirates Prospects and HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds Interested In Fred Lewis — The Reds are looking for a versatile outfielder who bats from the left side and they are now interested in Fred Lewis, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The 30-year-old played all three outfield positions for the Blue Jays last year and boasts …
Discussion:
mlbbuzz, MetsBlog.com and Red Reporter
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Inbox: Time to pass on Papelbon? — Beat reporter Ian Browne fields questions from Red Sox fans — Why don't the Red Sox think about trading Jonathan Papelbon for a couple of prospects — including a catcher — and give Daniel Bard the opportunity to be the closer?
Discussion:
Boston Globe
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Boston Globe:
Sox bring back Okajima
Sox bring back Okajima
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, The LoHud Yankees Blog, WEEI and The Soxaholix
CNN:
Orioles pitcher: Shooting death was an accident — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (CNN) — Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon said Monday the shooting death of a 25-year-old man over the weekend was an accident. — “In truth that young man was my friend, like a brother,” he said of Michael Esteban Castillo.
Discussion:
Orioles Insider, Camden Chat, MASNsports.com and The Big Lead