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:
NESN.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Yahoo! Sports
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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.
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:
Baseball Prospectus, 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:
Mark My Word, Batter's Box Interactive …, Red Hot Mama 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:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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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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.
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:
Lookout Landing, U.S.S. Mariner and Yahoo! Sports
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 …
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 …
Carlos Molina / MLB.com:
Castilla retires from winter ball — Vinny Castilla has officially announced his retirement from winter baseball, this time for good, he said. — The slugger made the announcement on Monday during a news conference at Hector Espino Stadium in Hermosillo, Mexico, a few days after his team …
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
