Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers, outfielder Marcus Thames agree on a deal — He's likely to platoon in left field with Jay Gibbons. Club is also close to signing outfielder Gabe Kapler. — Staff and wire reports — The Dodgers went into spring training last year with Manny Ramirez in left field …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers reach agreement with Marcus Thames, close to signing Gabe Kapler
Dodgers reach agreement with Marcus Thames, close to signing Gabe Kapler
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Report: Mets agree to deal with Young — NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says right-hander Chris Young has agreed to a contract with the New York Mets, pending a physical. — Mets at a glance — The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Source: Chris Young, Mets close — The New York Mets are closing in on a deal with free-agent right-hander Chris Young, a source within the organization told ESPNNewYork.com. — Young, 31, made three September starts for the San Diego Padres last season, after missing most of the season with a strained right shoulder.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Young, Mets agree, pending physical — The Mets and free-agent right-hander Chris Young have agreed to a deal, pending a physical, an organization source told ESPNNewYork.com. — That likely gives the Mets a rotation of Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese, R.A. Dickey, Chris Capuano and Young to open the season, if all are healthy.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, NY Daily News, MetsBlog.com, New York Post, HardballTalk, Mets Merized Online, Bats, MLB Rumors and OnTheBlack.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Votto, Lozano Make Smart Deal — Joey Votto has nothing to lose. He and agent Dan Lozano avoided arbitration and worked out a deal with the Reds that's worth $38MM in guaranteed money. And Votto doesn't hit free agency a minute later than he was originally scheduled to.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
New York Yankees exec: Rafael Soriano issue not bad for Brian Cashman — NEW YORK — The Yankees have “full confidence” in general manager Brian Cashman, according to a senior team executive who acknowledged a division in the ranks over the signing last week of reliever Rafael Soriano …
Discussion:
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …, NESN.com and Yankees Daily
RELATED:
ESPN:
Sources: New York Yankees lead chase for OF Andruw Jones
Sources: New York Yankees lead chase for OF Andruw Jones
Discussion:
New York Post, Pinstripe Alley and The Captain's Blog
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
New York Yankees less confident Andy Pettitte will return next …
New York Yankees less confident Andy Pettitte will return next …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and NESN.com
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Sources: Cubs trade Tom Gorzelanny — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have traded left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny to the Washington Nationals for three minor league prospects — right-handed pitcher A.J. Morris, left-handed pitcher Graham Hicks and outfielder Michael Burgess, according to two major league sources.
RELATED:
Pat Lackey / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Report: Cubs Trade Tom Gorzelanny to Nationals for Prospects
Report: Cubs Trade Tom Gorzelanny to Nationals for Prospects
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America and baseballmusings.com
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays avoid arbitration with B.J. Upton — ST. PETERSBURG — Centerfielder B.J. Upton went through the untoward experience of an arbitration hearing — and an unsuccessful one at that — last year. So given the opportunity by the Rays to avoid another and get a healthy raise in the process …
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays avoid arbitration, sign Upton for $4.825
Rays avoid arbitration, sign Upton for $4.825
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Yahoo! Sports:
Rauch, Janssen agree with Blue Jays — has agreed to a $3.75 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Casey Janssen — has settled his salary arbitration case. — Rauch, a free agent, gets one-year contract worth $3.75 million under Monday's agreement.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch
Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Yahoo! Sports
Jim Reeves / ESPN:
Rafael Palmeiro doesn't pass the test — It would be nice to ignore steroid controversy in HOF voting, but it would be wrong — For years, Rafael Palmeiro ducked the phone calls, ignored the messages, stayed out of the public eye and hoped that perhaps people would forgive and forget.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Myron Logan / Hardball Times:
Five winning moves of the offseason — With most major transactions likely complete, it's as good a time as any to take a look at some of the best moves of the 2010-2011 offseason. In no particular order: — 1) Boston Red Sox acquire Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego Padres …
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues rehab from surgery — IN SAN DIEGO Stephen Strasburg, the pitcher whose brilliance last summer grabbed baseball by the throat, has not grabbed a baseball in months. Some 150 days have passed since Strasburg picked up a ball …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and William World News
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Bautista the big question mark as arbitration deadline looms — On the eve of baseball's deadline for the exchange of arbitration numbers, right-handers Casey Janssen, Shawn Camp and Jesse Litsch agreed to terms on one-year contracts with the Jays for 2011. — Janssen, 29, settled on a $1.095 million (all figures U.S.) contract.
Larry Granillo / Wezen Ball:
A Very Special Episode — The 1980s and 1990s were an interesting time for a lot of things. Television sitcoms, for example, ranged from the brilliant in The Cosby Show and Cheers and the like, to the, um, not so brilliant in Saved by the Bell and Small Wonder.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Nolasco will be ready to go when camp opens — Marlins righty ahead of schedule in recovery from knee surgery — MIAMI — Right-hander Ricky Nolasco will be fully ready to go when Marlins pitchers and catchers begin Spring Training workouts on Feb. 18. — Returning from surgery …
Discussion:
FishStripes