Top News:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
All-time saves leader Hoffman retires — Closer finishes stellar 18-year career with 601 saves — Trevor Hoffman, certainly the top National League closer of his era, has decided to retire, ending his stellar 18-year career, he told MLB.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Selig: No expansion of playoffs, replay this year — PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — As owners and general managers prepared to gather this week for their first meetings of the new year, Commissioner Bud Selig told MLB.com that the playoffs and instant replay won't be expanded this coming season.
Discussion:
Bats, TYU, Bluebird Banter, Hardball Times, HardballTalk, Beyond the Box Score and Fanhouse MLB Blog
MLB:
Trevor Hoffman retiring — Trevor Hoffman, the Major League Baseball leader in saves, has decided to retire, the Beverly Hills Sports Council, who represents Hoffman, confirmed Tuesday. — Hoffman ends his 18-year career with an all-time record 601 saves, 41 ahead of New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, who is in second place with 559.
Discussion:
Baseball-Reference Blog and BronxBanterBlog.com
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Mets To Sign Taylor Tankersley — The Mets have reached agreement on a minor league deal with left-handed reliever Taylor Tankersley, according to Dave Gershman of the SPANdemonium blog. MLBTR has confirmed the agreement, which includes a Spring Training invitation.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Mets Fever
RELATED:
SPANdemonium:
Mets agree to Minor League Deal with LHP Taylor Tankersley — According to a source, the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league deal with Taylor Tankersley. The deal includes a Spring Training invite and is not yet official but was agreed upon on Friday.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Gary Myers / NY Daily News:
Jets' Antonio Cromartie tells Daily News he hates Tom Brady, calls Patriots QB an ‘ass— ’ — Now, it's really personal. — Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, taking the baton from Rex Ryan, who criticized Tom Brady's post-touchdown “antics” earlier this week, ripped into the Patriots quarterback …
Discussion:
thejetsblog.com, NESN.com, Deadspin, The Big Lead and FanHouse
Bailey Stephens / MLB.com:
First Spring Training workout dates released — Pitchers and catchers report. — Those magical words, which signal the birth of a new baseball season, are fast approaching. That day will be here before we know it, and on Tuesday, baseball fans found out exactly when their team will be hitting …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bill Conlin / Philly.com:
Hall voters don't need morals clause to determine who is worthy — “Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” — Instruction to Voters
Discussion:
Baseball Think Factory and HardballTalk
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Bronson Arroyo keeps tune with Red Sox — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — When the Red Sox [team stats] traded Bronson Arroyo to the Cincinnati Reds in March 2006 for Wily Mo Pena, they thought they had a surplus of pitching. — That proved to be even more of a mirage than Pena's power skills.
Amanda Covarrubias / L.A. NOW:
Lenny Dykstra accused of sexual assault by housekeeper; no charges filed — Former pro baseball player Lenny Dykstra's housekeeper accused him of sexual assault, according to records, though prosecutors declined to file charges this month citing a lack of evidence.
Discussion:
Mack's Mets, Lone Star Ball, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
Sports Illustrated:
Bumgarner, Latos among pitchers at risk of Year After Effect … While baseball in 2010 became The Year of the Pitcher, with offensive numbers dialed back to 1992 levels, the story beneath the story is that clubs are doing a better job than ever developing young pitchers.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets Interested in Dave Bush for Rotation — In seven big league seasons with the Blue Jays and Brewers, Dave Bush has appeared in 193 games, making 184 starts, and is 56-68 with a 4.66 ERA in 1104 innings. — He went 8-13 with a 4.54 ERA in 31 starts and one relief appearance in 2010 …
Discussion:
Tedquarters and Mets Merized Online
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Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Amaro Talks Blanton, Durbin and Manuel's Contract — Ruben Amaro Jr. sounds pretty comfortable with the 59 players he has coming to Spring Training next month. — He has been shopping and continues shopping Joe Blanton, who will make $17 million over the next two seasons, although he said this week he does not have to shed payroll.
Discussion:
MASNsports.com, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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
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MLB:
Sources: Brad Penny, Tigers agree
Discussion:
Beck's Blog, Bless You Boys, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, NESN.com and Fox Sports
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Leaders of the youth movement — Craig Kimbrel participated in the union's seminars over the past week, a means for educating young players like the Braves' reliever. They talked about dealing with the media, the good and bad of social media, investing money, that sort of thing.
Discussion:
ESPN, It's About The Money, HardballTalk and Twinkie Town
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Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Could Lew Wolff end up owning the Dodgers?
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog and baseballmusings.com
