Top News:
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
If Adrian Beltre goes to Rangers, Vladimir Guerrero could return to Angels — Adrian Beltre, according to numerous media reports, is closing in on a deal with the Texas Rangers, a move that would be a considerable blow to the Angels' playoff hopes and would greatly increase the chances of slugger Vladimir Guerrero returning to Anaheim.
Discussion:
Texas Rangers
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Source: Los Angeles Angels' Plan B doesn't include Vladimir Guerrero — The Los Angeles Angels continue their search for offensive help even as the biggest names continue to fall off the board. — According to multiple reports, third baseman Adrian Beltre is on the verge of agreeing …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Rangers, Adrian Beltre on verge of deal that could be worth $96 million
Rangers, Adrian Beltre on verge of deal that could be worth $96 million
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Baseball Time in Arlington
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Michael Young agrees to change positions to stay with Rangers
Michael Young agrees to change positions to stay with Rangers
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Lone Star Ball
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Young willing to DH if Rangers sign Beltre
Young willing to DH if Rangers sign Beltre
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Baseball Time in Arlington, Fanhouse MLB Blog and ESPN
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Notes: Pavano, Beltre, Young
Rangers Notes: Pavano, Beltre, Young
Discussion:
Postcards from Elysian Fields and HardballTalk
Dirk Hayhurst:
Bye-bye Blue Jays. — I've actually known about this for a while, but I've been dragging my feet on just what to say about it. I've decided you need to know since you'll find out eventually and I'd rather it come from me than some other blog which will probably highlight my small career sample …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Getting Blanked, Batter's Box Interactive … and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's agree to terms with Gregg on two-year, $10 million deal with club option for 2013 — The Orioles added another important piece to the back of their bullpen today, agreeing to terms with veteran right-hander Kevin Gregg on a two-year, $10 million deal, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Discussion:
Mariners blog and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Ken Davidoff's baseball insider — The remaining free agents: Kramer and Stan (Rick), or Thelma and Louise? View all — posts — Andy Pettitte and some Hall of Fame stuff — Not surprisingly, as we kick off the work week, Andy Pettitte headlines New York baseball talk.
Discussion:
Joe Blogs, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog, New York Times, The Captain's Blog and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Boston Herald:
Yankees: Andy Pettitte situation not affecting moves
Yankees: Andy Pettitte situation not affecting moves
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Hall of Fame needs to deal with steroids era — Powers in Cooperstown need to fix the process instead of making votes so hard to cast — There's a Cooperstown crisis coming. Nobody seems to want to acknowledge it. Nobody seems to want to deal with it. But it's coming, all right, whether the Hall of Fame is ready or not.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Ballot history reveals even worthy must wait — First, there were five. Cy Young, whose name graces the highest pitching award in baseball, didn't make the cut. He didn't even get 50 percent of the vote. — That was in 1936, when — in order of voting percentage — Ty Cobb (98.2) …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies and Gonzalez OK 7-year, $80 million deal, sources say — The Rockies agreed on a seven-year, $80 million contract with outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, pending a physical, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations. — The deal covers three free-agent years …
RELATED:
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
Setting the market for Votto?
Setting the market for Votto?
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB.com, OMGreds and MLB Rumors
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Rockies extend CarGo for 7 years, $80M
Rockies extend CarGo for 7 years, $80M
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds' offseason may heat up as spring nears
Reds' offseason may heat up as spring nears
Discussion:
Red Reporter, HardballTalk and Redleg Nation
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Bill Buckner to manage Brockton Rox — BOSTON — Bill Buckner is coming back here, and in uniform, too. — The former Red Sox first baseman has been hired to manage the Brockton (Mass.) Rox, a team in the independent Can-Am League, Rox co-owner Van Schley confirmed Tuesday.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Surviving Grady and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Roberto Alomar / ESPN:
ESPN: Hall passes for Alomar, Blyleven — ESPN.com asked 18 of ESPN's Hall of Fame voters to submit their ballots for the Class of 2011, which will be announced Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. — To be elected, players must receive at least 75 percent of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote.
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts, Hardball Times and HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds To Sign Jeremy Hermida — The Reds agreed to sign Jeremy Hermida to a minor league deal, according to the team (on Twitter). The move fills out Cincinnati's outfield and lessens the need for Fred Lewis or Scott Podsednik. Career Sports represents Hermida, who turns 27 this month.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Cincinnati Reds and Diamond Hoggers
RELATED:
Marksheldon / Mark My Word:
Reds sign Hermida
Reds sign Hermida
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Redleg Nation and MLB Rumors
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
The 2010 Seattle Seahawks: Worst. Playoff. Team. Ever? — By defeating the St. Louis Rams Sunday night, the Seattle Seahawks qualified for the N.F.L. playoffs in spite of having lost nine games and won only seven. — They are not, technically speaking, the first N.F.L. team …
Discussion:
Denver Post and THE BOOK
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Brandon Webb feeling good, but won't rush — ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers pitcher Brandon Webb and general manager Jon Daniels are not fans of timetables. Asked repeatedly if Webb's shoulder will make him ready to start the season in the rotation, both Webb and Daniels said they'd have to wait until spring training starts.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Source: Rays among several teams interested in Manny Delcarmen — According to a baseball source, the Tampa Bay Rays are one of “several teams” to express interest in former Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen, who became a free agent in December when the Colorado Rockies elected not to tender the right-hander a contract.
Discussion:
Fenway West and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays interested in Delcarmen
Rays interested in Delcarmen
Discussion:
HardballTalk and DRaysBay
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Indians Acquire Joe Martinez — The Indians acquired Joe Martinez from the Pirates for a played to be named or cash considerations, the teams announced today. The Pirates acquired Martinez and John Bowker from the Giants for Javier Lopez at last year's trade deadline, and went on to designate Martinez for assignment late last month.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …
MLB.com:
Minnesota Twins Announce Plans For 2011 Twins Winter Caravan — Caravan starts Jan. 17, stopping in nearly 60 cities — The Minnesota Twins today announced plans for the club's 51st annual Twins Winter Caravan. The 2011 Twins Winter Caravan features stops in nearly 60 communities …
Discussion:
NotGraphs Baseball
News Press:
(2 of 2) — In Blyleven's second year on the ballot, he received 14.2 percent of the vote. — The last Hall of Famer to rebound from a percentage of 14 or lower to make it was slugger Ralph Kiner, who was elected in 1970 with 75.4 percent of the vote. In 1962, only 1.1 percent of writers thought he was worthy.
Discussion:
foxsportsnorth.com
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Heavily invested in Blyleven — Rich Lederer is an investment manager. Stock and bond portfolios are his thing. He is the president and chief investment officer of Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel in Long Beach, Calif. — But Lederer loved batting averages long before calculating his first P/E ratio.
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts and HardballTalk
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Mets sign Taylor Buchholz and Chris Capuano — According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Taylor Buchholz will earn a $600,000 base salary, and Chris Capuano will earn a $1.5 million base salary with the opportunity to earn more with incentives. — Rubin also says the signing of both Capuano …
Discussion:
Tedquarters, ESPN, Mack's Mets, OnTheBlack.com and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets ink Capuano, Buchholz, assign Ryota
Mets ink Capuano, Buchholz, assign Ryota
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing and Mets Merized Online