Top News:
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.
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Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Adam LaRoche signing shows Washington Nationals now know nothing is free — Nothing is free. Billionaires aren't exempt. As the Washington Nationals' owners are now learning, in baseball there is even a steep price to be paid for the money you didn't spend in the past.
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:
MASNsports.com, D.C. Sports Bog, Federal Baseball, The Goessling Game and Yahoo! Sports
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats agree to two-year contract with LaRoche
Nats agree to two-year contract with LaRoche
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer, Nationals Inquisition, NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK, TBD All News and NATS INSIDER
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, HardballTalk and Federal Baseball
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Cooperstown calls for Alomar, Blyleven — NEW YORK — Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday as part of the Class of 2011, ending a year of anxiety and trepidation for the pair of stellar players. — Alomar was named on 90 percent …
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Bless You Boys, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and Let's Go Tribe!
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Blyleven, Alomar elected to Hall of Fame — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — The Baseball Hall of Fame just opened its doors to Bert Blyleven and Robbie Alomar. — The durable Blyleven, whose 3,701 strikeouts are the fifth-highest total for any pitcher and 60 shutouts are ninth-most …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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.
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
Free-agent 3B Adrian Beltre and Rangers agree to multi-year deal
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:
Lookout Landing and Lone Star Ball
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yankees hitting coach: No set lineup at camp — When the Yankees start playing Grapefruit League games late next month, the search for a winning lineup combination also will begin. — Could Brett Gardner hit leadoff against all pitchers? — Could Derek Jeter wind up further down the order?
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals open talks with Pujols — The Cardinals have wasted little time addressing their most pressing New Year's resolution: tying up Albert Pujols. — Negotiations between the club and Pujols' agent, Dan Lozano, resumed this week and have taken on a “positive” tone, according to several sources familiar with the process.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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
Jim Caple / ESPN:
HOF voters need to open their eyes — I have a message for BBWAA members who continue to withhold votes from players who used, or are suspected of using, performance enhancers: Get off your @#*& high horse. — Hey, I get that you think steroid use is really, really bad. Or at least, that this is your view now.
Discussion:
TYU, Baseball Crank 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, HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues, Bronx Baseball Daily, ESPN, The LoHud Yankees Blog, NESN.com, Sliding Into Home and SNY
Baseball America:
Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com, Better Off Red and Cincinnati Reds
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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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 …
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.