Top News:
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:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
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.
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Nice work by Scott Boras on the Rafael Soriano deal
Nice work by Scott Boras on the Rafael Soriano deal
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 …
What's the excuse now? — In the unlikely event that you missed …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, lenNY's Yankees, Yankeeist and baseballmusings.com
Buster Olney / ESPN:
For Yankees, a potent arm, a puzzling deal
For Yankees, a potent arm, a puzzling deal
Discussion:
HardballTalk, TYU and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Yankees agree to terms with Soriano
Yankees agree to terms with Soriano
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, SOX & Dawgs and FenwayNationWorld
NY Daily News:
Rafael Soriano agrees to 3-year, $35 million deal with Yankees …
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
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
A's To Sign Grant Balfour
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and River Avenue Blues
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Third annual NatsFest set for March 30 — WASHINGTON — The Nationals will host the annual NatsFest at Nationals Park on March 30 so that more fans can celebrate the beginning of baseball alongside players, coaches and team personnel. This move will offer fans access to a fun-filled festival featuring …
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Rizzo confident in Nats' stable of pitchers — WASHINGTON — Published reports have indicated that the Nationals are trying to acquire free-agent right-hander Chris Young. Not true, according to a baseball source, who declined to say why the club doesn't have interest.
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, NoMaas.org and ESPN
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?
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
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 …
No More Fear of the Phillies — J.P. Ricciardi came to the Mets …
Discussion:
Crashburn Alley
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
New York Mets lefty Johan Santana OK'd to throw after surgery — NEW YORK — Johan Santana has been given the green light to begin a throwing program as he continues rehabilitation from shoulder surgery. — The team has not set a timetable for his return, but manager Terry Collins …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
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
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
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?