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, Beck's Blog, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys, MLB Rumors and Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
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
Associated Press:
Tigers, Penny reach one-year, $3 million deal
Tigers, Penny reach one-year, $3 million deal
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and FanGraphs Baseball
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers, Penny come to terms on one-year deal
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Discussion:
Memories Of Kevin Malone, It's About The Money, HardballTalk and Twinkie Town
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:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Rothschild Yankees' only coaching change — NEW YORK — The Yankees have finalized their coaching staff for the 2011 season, and they announced on Tuesday that five members will return to their respective positions. — Mike Harkey, Mick Kelleher, Kevin Long, Tony Pena and Rob Thomson …
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
Gedman happy to be back with Red Sox
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Yahoo! Sports
Fox Sports:
AL MVP Josh Hamilton hospitalized with pneumonia — AL MVP Josh Hamilton has been hospitalized with pneumonia. — The Texas Rangers disclosed his condition Tuesday and said Hamilton was diagnosed with an early case Monday. The team expects the hospital to release him by Wednesday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jonah Keri / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Success Cycle is Full of Crap — We're pleased to welcome our newest addition to the FanGraphs team - Jonah Keri. You may be familiar with his work, as he's written for every publication known to man. We're thrilled that he's going to be writing for us going forward.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and DRaysBay
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 sides agreed to a $2MM deal, according to the AP (via the Miami Herald). The 27-year-old was arbitration eligible for the first time.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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.
Ken / Red Reporter:
Red Reporter Talks With Sean Casey — The Mayor celebrates a Home Run. via a.espncdn.com … Ken: How did you get involved with the MLBN and how do you like it so far? — Sean Casey: I was playing with the Red Sox in 2008 when we played the Rays [in the ALCS]. Harold Reynolds was working for TBS for the playoffs.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds
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 …, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Mark My Word
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds Sign Fred Lewis
Reds Sign Fred Lewis
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Chris Sabo's Goggles
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Will Cards use the A-Rod approach? — The last time a team sought to re-sign perhaps the best player in the game, Alex Rodriguez was speeding toward baseball's cherished milestones and the New York Yankees knew that to meet his one-of-a-kind price it would take a one-of-a-kind contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Zachary Levine / blogs.chron.com:
Who's winning all these Astros-Phillies deals? — It's been hinted at, snarked about if that's a word and generally mocked for the better part of three years. Monday, it was asked, and there's no reason to avoid the topic since it was clearly in the forefront of many minds when Monday's trade happened:
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com