Top News:
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:
Red Sox Monster
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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:
Boston Globe, Halos Heaven and 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
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers close to deal with Beltre
Rangers close to deal with Beltre
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and Lone Star Ball
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
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
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, Yahoo! Sports, Federal Baseball, baseballmusings.com and The Goessling Game
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats agree to two-year contract with LaRoche — WASHINGTON — Focusing on defense, the Nationals have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to a baseball source. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports indicated that he will make $16 million over those two years.
Discussion:
NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK, NATS INSIDER and The Nationals Enquirer
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Agree To Sign Adam LaRoche
Nationals Agree To Sign Adam LaRoche
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Federal Baseball and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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
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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 …
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:
Yahoo! Sports, Talking Chop and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Uggla becomes highest paid 2B ever — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — Dan Uggla got his wish. — The second baseman has reached agreement with the Braves on a five-year …
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
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:
South Side Sox, Hardball Times, Baseball Analysts, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
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:
MASNsports.com, Mariners blog, Oriole Post and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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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:
River Avenue Blues, Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB Rumors, NESN.com and Sliding Into Home
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, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, Yahoo! Sports and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
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.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Rays Index
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:
Mariners Musings and U.S.S. Mariner
St. Petersburg Times:
David Price to accept Warren Spahn Award — Rays lefthander David Price may not have won the American League Cy Young, but he'll pick up a special award this offseason. — Price will accept the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in a gala Jan 20th …
CNN:
Atty. claims O's pitcher didn't fire fatal shot — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (CNN) — A “preliminary forensics report” absolves Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon in the New Year's killing of a man in the northern coastal town of Luperon, his lawyer said Tuesday, but police expressed skepticism.
Discussion:
MASNsports.com, HardballTalk, Baltimore Sun, Orioles Insider and Camden Chat