Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Left-hander Hideki Okajima, Boston Red Sox complete deal — The Boston Red Sox re-signed left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima to a one-year contract, the team announced. — He gets a guaranteed $1.75 million. The deal includes incentives that could increase Okajima's overall payout to $2.3 million …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, NESN.com and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Gedman happy to be back with Red Sox — Rich Gedman started with the Red Sox in 1977 as an undrafted free agent out of St. Peter-Marian High in Worcester. He went on to spent parts of 11 seasons in Boston and twice made the All-Star team. — He helped lead the Sox into the 1986 Series …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and NESN.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Report: Sox finish deal with Okajima
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Okajima To One-Year Deal
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs and HardballTalk
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Carl Crawford driven to Sox
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Gaslamp Ball, baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds make Renteria deal official, sign Lewis — World Series MVP's one-year pact worth up to $3 million — CINCINNATI — A busy January continued for the Reds on Monday as they checked another item off the wish list by signing outfielder Fred Lewis to a one-year contract worth $900,000.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …, Red Hot Mama, Mark My Word and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds Sign Fred Lewis — The Reds announced that they signed Fred Lewis to a one-year deal (Twitter link). It's a $900K major league deal, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon (on Twitter). Scott Leventhal and Damon Lapa represent Lewis. — Until last week, Jay Bruce was the lone left-handed hitter in the Reds' outfield.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Chris Sabo's Goggles
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Benson says he's done pitching — In 1996, the Pittsburgh Pirates made Kris Benson the No. 1 overall pick in baseball's amateur draft. Within four years, he had thrown more than 400 innings in the majors and appeared on his way to realizing much of the potential he showed as a star at Clemson University.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Jason Bartlett gets $11-million for two years from San Diego Padres — Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett got the multi-year deal he was looking for from the Padres, avoiding arbitration with his new team by agreeing to a two-year deal for a reported $11-million …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Mariners Sign Adam Kennedy — The Mariners signed Adam Kennedy to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training, the team announced. Kennedy, who turns 35 today, enters the mix for a utility infield job with Seattle. — I suggested ten days ago that Kennedy would be a good fit for the M's …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Have Strong Interest In Andruw Jones — Andruw Jones appears to be the Yankees' top choice as they continue to search for a fourth outfielder, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The sides are still apart on money, Heyman writes. Agent Scott Boras, who represents Jones …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, Bronx Baseball Daily, NESN.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Kevin Acee / SignOnSanDiego.com:
UPDATED: Rivera all but certain to be Panthers' new head coach — It seems the Chargers are in the market for a new defensive coordinator. — Ron Rivera, many times a bridesmaid, is on the verge of being announced as the Carolina Panthers' new head coach.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, FanHouse, SBNation.com and NESN.com
New York Magazine:
The Greatest Athlete: “Is Derek Jeter Such a Bad Defender That He's a Bad Player?” — Ruth seems like a sure victor, but for his weight. Ewing suffers, unfairly? And one participant mourns the absence of an eighties fan favorite. — Yogi Berra, 1955. … Al Leiter: Lawrence Taylor was this guy who transcended his sport.
BWoodrum / DRaysBay:
What is FIP? — As part of the budding Sabermetrics Primer month, I've begun a video series aimed at explaining a variety sabermetric principles and statistics. The first is FIP: A New ERA, feature below. Watch it and let me know what you think! Also, tell me what other videos you would like to see.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and NotGraphs Baseball
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Astros Acquire Sergio Escalona — The Astros acquired left-hander Sergio Escalona from the Phillies for minor league second baseman Albert Cartwright, according to the teams. The Phillies designated Escalona for assignment over the weekend to make room for J.C. Romero.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and The Crawfish Boxes
Mike Silva / Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:
Pearlman Discusses HOF Vote, Bagwell, Piazza on Radio — Last night, Jeff Pearlman of Sports Illustrated joined me to discuss his controversial comments regarding steroids and Jeff Bagwell. — One of the points that Jeff made, and I agree with, is how MLB hasn't provided direction …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Mets Today
