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.
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Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Yankees agree to deal with Rafael Soriano — Brian Cashman sure slow-played this one. — Despite insisting last week that the Yankees would not surrender their first round pick in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft in order to sign a remaining Type A free agent, the Bombers agreed to terms on Thursday night with reliever Rafael Soriano.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees add Soriano to bullpen with 3-year deal — The New York Yankees have agreed to a three-year deal with All-Star reliever Rafael Soriano and plan to use him as a setup man in front of Mariano Rivera. The contract is worth about $35 million. — Rivera recently signed a two-year deal …
Discussion:
New York Yankees Fan Blog, New Jersey Online and USA Today
ESPN:
Source: Rafael Soriano, Yanks agree … The New York Yankees have agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal with reliever Rafael Soriano, a source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com. — Soriano will be an eighth-inning setup man for longtime closer Mariano Rivera. — Soriano must still pass a physical to complete the contract.
Discussion:
NoMaas.org
NY Daily News:
Rafael Soriano agrees to 3-year, $35 million deal with Yankees, will set up Mariano Rivera: source — The Yankees have reached an agreement with free agent closer Rafael Soriano. After leading the American League with 45 saves last season, he will serve as Mariano Rivera's primary setup man.
Discussion:
New York Times and Red Sox Monster
Bill Center / SignOnSanDiego.com:
Padres close to adding C Gregg Zaun, RHP Chad Qualls — The Padres are close to signing a paid of veteran free agent reserves - catcher Gregg Zaun and right-handed reliever Chad Qualls. — Zaun, who turns 40 April 19, would join Rob Johnson and Guillermo Quiroz in the competition for the No. catching job behind Nick Hundley.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Padres Close To Deal With Chad Qualls
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Fox Sports:
Which records are in jeopardy in 2011? — Chipper Jones is on pace to reach several milestones this season. — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com. His second book, “Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball's Mr. October,” is available from HarperCollins Publishers.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals look to replace Harris on bench — WASHINGTON — Utility player Willie Harris is not expected to return to the Nationals. Instead, he will sign with another Major League club as early as this week, according to a baseball source. — Two big league teams have made Harris an offer.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Cliff Corcoran / Pinstriped Bible …:
G.O.A.T. — The Greatest of All Time. (AP) — One of the primary attractions of statistical analysis, at least for me, is that it can tell you things that aren't readily apparent. Sometimes, statistics even tell you that what appears to be readily apparent isn't actually true at all.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Sports Illustrated, Tedquarters and River Avenue Blues
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves claim right-hander Varvaro off waivers — ATLANTA — If Anthony Varvaro proves to be as valuable as Eric O'Flaherty has been, the Braves will certainly be happy about their latest attempt to enhance their organization's bullpen depth with a pitcher who had been deemed expendable by the Mariners.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and MLB Rumors
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Jan. 1-10 — Lefty reliever Mariano Gomez, 28, has decent secondary stuff but no overpowering pitch, despite a 6-foot-6, 240-pound build. As a member of the Braves' Gwinnett affiliate, he held Triple-A lefties to a .234/.302/.351 batting line in '10. — Florida Marlins
Discussion:
Texas Rangers
Dan McGrath / New York Times:
Sandberg, Spurned by Cubs, Moves On — A Cubs Convention without Ryne Sandberg is almost unfathomable, like Wrigley Field without ivy-covered outfield walls or cold beer. — But as past, present and all other things Cub are celebrated this weekend at the Chicago Hilton, Sandberg …
Laurel Pfahler / TCPalm.com:
N.C. TV station reports son suspected of killing Vero Beach dad — PORT ST. LUCIE — Former players who were a part of the Mets 1969 or 1986 championship teams remember what it was like to be on top in New York. — It's a feeling the Mets hope to experience once again this season.
Discussion:
The Mets Police, Mack's Mets, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Mets Merized Online
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Pedro Martinez keeping busy — Ex-Sox ace may pitch — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — While he tries to figure out if he really wants to pitch or retire, Pedro Martinez is moving ahead with plans that will keep him plenty busy long after he does hang up his spikes.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Wells admits he got ‘too big for my britches’ — Pitcher apologizes for disappointing sophomore season — Sean Marshall, Koyii Hill, Darwin Barney and Jay Jackson entertain kids at Mt. Carmel Academy. (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / January 12, 2011)
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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