Top News:
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Source: Tigers, Brad Penny close to deal — The Detroit Tigers are on the verge of signing free-agent starter Brad Penny to a one-year, $3 million contract, a major-league source told FOXSports.com early Tuesday morning. — Penny, 32, will have the chance to earn more through incentives.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Beck's Blog, Bless You Boys, HardballTalk and Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Tigers, Penny reach one-year, $3 million deal — NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiation tells The Associated Press that right-hander Brad Penny has agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers. — The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement hasn't been announced.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and baseballmusings.com
MLB:
Sources: Brad Penny, Tigers agree — The Detroit Tigers and free-agent right-hander Brad Penny have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, plus $3 million in incentives, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Penny is recovering from an upper-back injury that limited him to just nine starts in 2009.
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog and NESN.com
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Could Lew Wolff end up owning the Dodgers? — There's an interesting — but troubling — musing in Buster Olney's latest column. First Olney notes that Frank McCourt is in dire financial straits — no surprise — but then speculates about one possible outcome:
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and VIN SCULLY IS MY HOMEBOY
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: New York Yankees step up pursuit of Justin Duchscherer — The New York Yankees, still in the market for pitching help, are stepping up their pursuit of free agent Justin Duchscherer, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — Duchscherer, 33, has a career record of 33-25 with a 3.13 ERA …
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:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Kris Benson to Retire from Baseball — According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, former Met RHP Kris Benson is retiring from baseball. — In 2004, the Mets acquired Benson in a trade with Jeff Keppinger in exchange for Ty Wigginton, Jose Bautista, and a minor leaguer.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bailey Stephens / MLB.com:
Cubs claim catcher Ramirez from Red Sox — The Cubs added some catching depth on Monday, claiming Max Ramirez off waivers from the Red Sox. — Ramirez, who is out of Minor League options, is on the move again after he was just claimed by the Red Sox off waivers from the Rangers on Jan. 5.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Gedman happy to be back with Red Sox
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and NESN.com
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Left-hander Hideki Okajima, Boston Red Sox complete deal
Discussion:
NESN.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Report: Sox finish deal with Okajima
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built and MLB Rumors
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:
Red Hot Mama, Batter's Box Interactive …, Mark My Word and Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds Sign Fred Lewis
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Chris Sabo's Goggles
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Dave Bush On Mets' Radar — Dave Bush is among the starting pitchers on the Mets' radar, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). As Crasnick notes, current Mets exec J.P. Ricciardi was the Blue Jays' GM when Toronto selected Bush in the second round of the 2002 draft.
Lance Williams / California Watch:
On day he homered, Bonds allegedly used banned drugs — On April 8, 2003, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit his 616th career home run - a bases-empty shot that provided the only real excitement for local fans in a 9-4 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Angels, Callaspo Avoid Arbitration — The Angels agreed to a one-year contract with Alberto Callaspo, avoiding arbitration, according to the team. The Halos acquired the 27-year-old from the Royals last summer. The Angels did not announce the terms of the deal, but it figures to be in the $1-2MM range …
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mets fully intend to bring Luis Castillo to spring training to compete for second base job in 2011 — Contrary to a weekend report that had the Mets considering releasing Luis Castillo, a club source Monday said the club has every intention of bringing him to spring training to compete for the second base job in 2011.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, New York Mets Fan Blog, Mack's Mets, ESPN and OnTheBlack.com
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Oakland Athletics Top 11 Prospects — System In 20 Words Or Less: There's a significant drop-off after the top four, but at least the players below the big names have plenty of potential. — Five-Star Prospects — 1. Chris Carter, 1B/OF — 2. Grant Green, SS — Four-Star Prospects
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Matt Bowling / Hardball Times:
Worth a thousand words — In this panoramic photograph taken on Oct. 24, 1913 (from the Library of Congress), a proud world champion Philadelphia Athletics team looks out at the camera having just defeated the New York Giants four games to one. Connie Mack at center stage looks beyond impressive …
Robert Macleod / Globe and Mail:
Jays to rely more on small ball — Cambridge, Ont.— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail — As explosive as the Toronto Blue Jays offence was last year, Vernon Wells knows its long-ball output will be impossible to duplicate for the 2011 season. — The Blue Jays of 2010 boasted seven players …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
