Top News:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Agree To Sign Rafael Soriano — The Yankees have agreed to terms with Rafael Soriano, reports SI.com's Jon Heyman (all Twitter links). The deal is believed to be worth $35MM over three years, and will allow the player to opt out after either of the first two years.
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Mariano Rivera saved the Yanks ... again — Sales job on management may have given Bombers some valuable peace of mind — Mariano Rivera ended the 2010 baseball season with 559 career saves. — As he prepares to begins the 2011 season, his total now stands at 560.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Nice work by Scott Boras on the Rafael Soriano deal — The Rafael Soriano deal represents some pretty sweet work by Scott Boras. Not just the in the sell-ice-to-Eskimos sense — the Yankees already have a pretty decent bullpen ace — but also in its structure.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, Subway Squawkers, Bats and baseballmusings.com
Mike Axisa / River Avenue Blues:
What's the excuse now? — In the unlikely event that you missed it last night, the Yankees have agreed to a contract with free agent reliever Rafael Soriano. I'm not a fan of the deal at all but I'm not here to talk about that. Instead I want to rant about a member of the pitching staff directly impacted …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, lenNY's Yankees and baseballmusings.com
Buster Olney / ESPN:
For Yankees, a potent arm, a puzzling deal
Discussion:
HardballTalk, TYU and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
Joe Pawlikowski / River Avenue Blues:
With endgame in place, Yanks need to work on opening
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, TYU, BronxBanterBlog.com, Pinstriped Bible …, MLB Rumors, Yankeeist and Respect Jeter's Gangster
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Yankees agree to terms with Soriano
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, It's About The Money, SOX & Dawgs and FenwayNationWorld
NY Daily News:
Rafael Soriano agrees to 3-year, $35 million deal with Yankees …
Discussion:
New York Times, Deadspin and Red Sox Monster
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees add Soriano to bullpen with 3-year deal
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Projo Sox Blog, Red Sox Beacon, USA Today and New York Yankees Fan Blog
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Oakland Athletics add Grant Balfour to bullpen, sources say — The Oakland Athletics have agreed on a two-year, $8.1 million deal with reliever Grant Balfour, sources familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com. — The contract also includes a club option for 2013.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Associated Press:
AP Source: A's Agree to Terms With RHP Balfour — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have agreed to terms with free agent right-handed reliever Grant Balfour on an $8.1 million, two-year deal. — A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the deal to The Associated Press …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
A's To Sign Grant Balfour
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and River Avenue Blues
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Jeff Francis, Royals agree — Free-agent pitcher Jeff Francis has reached agreement on a one-year, guaranteed deal with the Kansas City Royals, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — The contract is pending completion of a physical exam, the source said. — Terms weren't immediately available.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports, USA Today, Inside the Colorado Rockies, MLB Daily Dish, baseballmusings.com, Yankeeist, ESPN and NoMaas.org
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Source: Mets to ink Willie Harris — Longtime Mets nemesis Willie Harris is likely bringing his glove to New York. — Harris, 32, intends to sign a one-year, minor league contract with an invitation to Mets spring training, a baseball source told ESPNNewYork.com.
Discussion:
Kranepool Society
RELATED:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Inbox: How do the Mets value Pagan?
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Mack's Mets
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals look to replace Harris on bench
Discussion:
MASNsports.com, The Nationals Enquirer and MLB Rumors
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Twins re-sign Jim Thome to one-year, $3 million contract — After flirting with the Rangers while searching for a multi-year deal, Jim Thome has returned to the Twins on a one-year contract. — According to Kelly Thesier of MLB.com he'll get $3 million in guaranteed money …
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Gregg excited about O's despite undefined role — Free agent signs two-year deal, but not guaranteed closer's job — Why did Kevin Gregg choose to sign with the Orioles this offseason? The 32-year-old reliever immediately cited two specific reasons during a Friday morning conference call.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Mike Sielski / Wall Street Journal:
No More Fear of the Phillies — J.P. Ricciardi came to the Mets …
Discussion:
Crashburn Alley
Barry Horn / Dallas Morning News:
John Rhadigan the leading candidate for Rangers' play-by-play job — There has been a lot of interest in the Rangers' play-by-play job, and I have gotten a lot of inquiries about who and when an announcement regarding Josh Lewin's successor would be coming. — I believe Fox Sports Southwest's John Rhadigan will be the man.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
Detroit Tigers bump Zumaya's pay after limited season — DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract with reliever Joel Zumaya, a raise of $485,000. — Zumaya — Zumaya was limited to 31 games last year, when he fractured his elbow in late June.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Autonomy, meddling and media — So, I assume we will now get endless reports and talk-radio babble about autonomy and ‘meddling,’ right? Or, is that only when talking about the Mets?
