Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers close to deal with Beltre — Two-time Gold Glove third baseman had stellar 2010 for Boston — ARLINGTON — The Rangers' big free-agent purchase of the offseason is close to being completed. Get ready for Adrian Beltre to take over for Michael Young as the Rangers' third baseman.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
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
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Rangers, Adrian Beltre on verge of deal that could be worth $96 million — The Rangers, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, are on the brink of a deal with Adrian Beltre on a long-term deal that could keep him in Texas for six years. — Officially, the deal will be reported …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Baseball Time in Arlington
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Source: Los Angeles Angels' Plan B doesn't include Vladimir Guerrero
Source: Los Angeles Angels' Plan B doesn't include Vladimir Guerrero
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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:
Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay, 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:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Boston Globe
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
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:
Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, Batter's Box Interactive … and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Agree To Sign Kevin Gregg — 4:07pm: The vesting option would bring the total value of the deal to the $16-20MM range, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). — 1:21pm: The Orioles agreed to sign Kevin Gregg to a two-year, $10MM deal with an option, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (all Twitter links).
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's agree to terms with Gregg on two-year, $10 million deal …
O's agree to terms with Gregg on two-year, $10 million deal …
Discussion:
Mariners blog and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Ken Davidoff / Boston Herald:
Yankees: Andy Pettitte situation not affecting moves — NEW YORK — Even as Andy Pettitte stays silent on his future, two of the lefthander's friends believe that he'll come back for a 17th season. But the Yankees continue to act as though Pettitte will retire, and general manager Brian …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Ken Davidoff's baseball insider
Ken Davidoff's baseball insider
Discussion:
Joe Blogs, HardballTalk, The Captain's Blog, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, New York Times and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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:
Yahoo! Sports, 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:
Hardball Times, Baseball Analysts, Yahoo! Sports and 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 …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
RELATED:
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
Setting the market for Votto?
Setting the market for Votto?
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB.com, MLB Rumors and OMGreds
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Rockies extend CarGo for 7 years, $80M
Rockies extend CarGo for 7 years, $80M
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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
Associated Press:
Scout arrested on fraud charges — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Authorities in the Dominican Republic have accused a baseball scout of fraud and of falsifying documents to obtain professional contracts for talented players. — Police said in a statement Tuesday that the arrest …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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:
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:
Cincinnati Reds, HardballTalk and Diamond Hoggers
RELATED:
Marksheldon / Mark My Word:
Reds sign Hermida
Reds sign Hermida
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Redleg Nation and MLB Rumors
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
Larry Larue / Mariners Insider:
Who replaces Dave in 2011? Maybe no one — They have given no indication that the position is available, but the Seattle Mariners have received between 50 and 100 resumes, digital recordings and applications from broadcasters hoping to replace Dave Niehaus in 2011.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lookout Landing
Baltimore Sun:
Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon surrenders, says he did not intend to kill — Reliever claims shooting in Dominican Republic was accidental; prosecutor leans toward involuntary manslaughter charge; former Oriole Miguel Tejada to provide attorneys' fees — Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon …
RELATED:
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
MLB Capsules: Webb, Rhodes formally added to Rangers staff
MLB Capsules: Webb, Rhodes formally added to Rangers staff
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Lookout Landing