Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals agree to terms with Adam LaRoche — The Nationals found their replacement for first baseman Adam Dunn tonight, finalizing a two-year deal with an option for a third year with Adam LaRoche. LaRoche, the best remaining free agent remaining at the position, is a defensive upgrade over Dunn …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Federal Baseball, The Goessling Game, William World News and Yahoo! Sports
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats agree to two-year contract with LaRoche
Nats agree to two-year contract with LaRoche
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer, NATS INSIDER and NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
LaRoche inks 2-year deal with Nationals
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Agree To Sign Adam LaRoche
Nationals Agree To Sign Adam LaRoche
Discussion:
Rotoworld.com, Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Complications make Baseball Hall of Fame voting less fun than it used to be — Voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame will always be one of the elite privileges I've had. It's just too bad it's getting so complicated and controversial — and a lot less enjoyable.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Run-producing Raines deserves Hall nod — Tim Raines had Hall of Fame talent. He had a Hall of Fame peak. He had Hall of Fame longevity. Yet somehow, he remains far from Hall of Fame enshrinement. — The man known as “Rock” may or may not be the best eligible player who's not in Cooperstown …
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:
MLB, Red Reporter, joy of sox, South Side Sox, HardballTalk, Hardball Times, Baseball Analysts and Yahoo! Sports
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Sources: Rangers to sign Beltre for $96M — The Texas Rangers are set to announce a six-year, $96 million deal with free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, multiple major-league sources told FOXSports.com Tuesday night. — A news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday, one source said.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Jeff Wilson / Dallas Morning News:
Free-agent 3B Adrian Beltre and Rangers agree to multi-year deal — Adrian Beltre could be introduced as early as this afternoon as the Rangers' everyday third baseman after he agreed to a multiyear deal with the AL champions late Tuesday, sources said. — The free agent arrived …
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Red Sox Monster
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers' Young willing to move to DH
Texas Rangers' Young willing to move to DH
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Baseball Time in Arlington and ESPN
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
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs take lead in Garza derby — The Cubs appear to have moved past the Texas Rangers and into the driver's seat in efforts to acquire Tampa Bay Rays 15-game winner Matt Garza — a potential move that could put the Cubs back into the National League Central title conversation for 2011.
Jack Moore / FanGraphs Baseball:
Jays Realize Return on Arbitration Offers — Two months ago, the Blue Jays traded for Miguel Olivo just to decline his option and offer him arbitration. Along with John Buck, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, and Kevin Gregg, Olivo was just one of the group of players with which Alex Anthopolous …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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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:
MASNsports.com, Oriole Post, Mariners blog and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Braves Agree To Deal With Dan Uggla — The Braves and Dan Uggla have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $62MM, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that the salary in the first year of the deal is believed to be low, under $10MM.
Discussion:
Talking Chop, FishStripes, Yahoo! Sports and Al's Ramblings
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A.J. Perez / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Rafael Palmeiro Could be Telling Truth, Says Former Congressman — WASHINGTON — Rafael Palmeiro uttered the words a few corridors from here that defined his career more than his 3,020 hits, 569 home runs and three Gold Gloves. — “I have never used steroids, period.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Hall of Fame needs to deal with steroids era
Hall of Fame needs to deal with steroids era
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Purple Row and HardballTalk
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Yankees showing interest in free agent Bonderman — The New York Yankees have shown interest in free-agent starter Jeremy Bonderman, a major-league source told FOXSports.com. — Bonderman went 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) for the Detroit Tigers last year.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, ESPN, Bronx Baseball Daily, River Avenue Blues, The LoHud Yankees Blog, NESN.com, Sliding Into Home and SNY
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
On Hall of Fame day, the BBWAA site got hacked — This is what the BBWAA website looked like as of a couple of minutes ago. I'm assuming that they've dispatched a crack team of technical experts to fix the problem and restore order. — Of course since, by definition …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds unveil 2011 Winter Caravan itinerary — Club will make 15 stops in four states from Jan. 27-30 — CINCINNATI — One of the biggest buzz builders to get fans ready for the upcoming season, the 2011 edition of Reds Winter Caravan is planned for Jan. 27-30.
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Veteran catcher Bard re-signs with Mariners — SEATTLE — Catcher Josh Bard, who played 39 games last year for the Mariners, has signed a Minor League deal with Seattle and will receive an invitation to Spring Training and a chance to compete for a backup spot, the veteran told MLB.com on Tuesday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Mariners Musings and U.S.S. Mariner
Steven Marcus / Newsday:
2011 will be all about Jeter — Derek Jeter isn't about personal accomplishments, but the most celebrated Yankee since Mickey Mantle will be the early focus of the 2011 season as he approaches 3,000 career hits. — Jeter is just 74 shy of the magical number that will create an even greater resume for his Hall of Fame candidacy.