Top News:
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Beltre, Pettitte, Webb, Young — From the Rangers press conference... * Club officials are not particularly optimistic that something will get down with third baseman Adrian Beltre. That deal seems unlikely give the tenor of feeling on Monday but things could change.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Halos Heaven and Angels blog
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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:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, USA Today, HardballTalk, Angels blog and Mariners blog
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:
Lone Star Ball, The Sommer Frieze, 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:
HardballTalk and Halos Heaven
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 …
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, Purple Row and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Agree To Extend Carlos Gonzalez
Rockies Agree To Extend Carlos Gonzalez
Discussion:
MLB and Angels blog
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:
Red Hot Mama, HardballTalk, Where Have You Gone …, baseballmusings.com 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:
South Side Sox, 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
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:
Pirates Prospects, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Inbox: Will Betancourt be the man at short? — Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers questions from fans … As of now, I hear that the Brewers' plan going into the season is to start Yuniesky Betancourt at short with Craig Counsel as the backup. What are the odds of the Brewers signing someone …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and MLB Rumors
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
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Morris's Moment of Greatness, and Lasting Controversy — Most Hall of Fame voters believe Jack Morris deserves a plaque in Cooperstown. That is not enough to get Morris into the Hall of Fame — he had 52 percent of the vote last year, and candidates need 75 — but it is significant.
Discussion:
Bats, Beyond the Box Score, baseballmusings.com and The Captain's Blog