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3:40 PM ET, January 20, 2011

Ballbug

 Top News: 
The Knobler Blog:
Did Lee damage Yankees — and front office?  —  It's no surprise to hear someone say the Yankees overpaid for a free agent.  —  But it sure is a little strange when that someone is the general manager of the Yankees.  —  That would be the same general manager of the Yankees who joked …
RELATED:
Mike Fast / Baseball Prospectus:
Rafael Soriano in King Mo's Court
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
Mark Viera / Bats:
Cashman Explains Stance as Yanks Introduce Soriano
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Reyes likes NYC, but no contract during season  —  Yesterday at Citi Field, Jose Reyes told reporters he is not interested in talking about his contract during the season.  —  “I want to be focused trying to help this team win,” he explained.  “I just want to play baseball for now.”
Discussion: New York Post
RELATED:
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
It's wait and see for Jose Reyes, Mets  —  NEW YORK - The enthusiasm was real and familiar, with Jose Reyes seeming as if he was ready to begin spring training Wednesday morning as he excitedly spoke first to a group of fifth- and sixth-grade kids and then to the media.
Tim Kurkjian / MLB:
Colombia has a passion for many things, including baseball  —  Longtime baseball man tells how the Latin American country has a passion for the game  —  The Casa De Abuela, or “Grandmother's House,” is a $60-a-night hotel in Turbaco, a community outside of Cartagena, Colombia.
Discussion: HardballTalk
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Harper No. 2 among top outfield prospects  —  Angels' Trout could develop fast; Harper ready to get started … Outfielders come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are speedy, top-of-the-lineup types, others are big bashers.  The ultimate prize, of course, is a five-tool outfielder.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Former All-Star Chavez works out for Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers worked out free-agent third baseman Eric Chavez at their Camelback Ranch-Glendale training facility in Arizona on Thursday.  —  Among club officials attending the workout were assistant general managers De Jon Watson …
Discussion: HardballTalk
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Twins Agree To Terms With Carl Pavano  —  The Twins have agreed to terms with right-hander Carl Pavano on a two-year, $16.5MM contract, according to a team press release.  Pavano will earn $8MM next season and $8.5MM in 2012, plus an extra $500K should he reach certain incentive clauses.
Discussion: Twinkie Town and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Twins keep Pavano with 2-year, $16.5M contract
Discussion: ESPN
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Discussion: HardballTalk and Projo Sox Blog
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Deer antlers: the hot new PED  —  Given how many baseball players spend their offseasons hunting you'd think we would have heard about this by now, but this is the first I've heard of ground up deer antlers being used by athletes as a PED: … Apparently the active ingredient — IGF-1 …
Discussion: Tedquarters
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
It occurs to me that . . .  Emptying Out the Desk Drawer of the Sports Mind:  —  Tell me why anyone over 6-6 is allowed to enter a dunk contest.  —  As an aside, I saw Nate Robinson, who might be 5-8, touch a piece of padding that was a good foot above the rim at Celtics practice the other day.
Discussion: HardballTalk
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: Everyday role in Texas unlikely for Vlad  —  Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers questions from fans  —  Why were we going after Jim Thome very heavily, but not Vladimir Guerrero, when we just announced Michael Young as our new designated hitter?  If Thome signed, I believe …
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Executive excellence  —  Lucchino worthy of Fuchs Award  —  You know the best thing you can say about Larry Lucchino in his role as CEO of the Red Sox?  He sticks up for his organization.  —  Whether it's challenging agents like Scott Boras, or defending the team's name nationally …
Discussion: The Soxaholix
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Last Type A signing sets Draft's first-round order  —  Thirty-three selections will be made, three of them by Rays  —  When Carl Pavano re-signed with the Twins on Wednesday, the story wasn't only about the best remaining starting pitching on the open market coming to terms.
Discussion: HardballTalk and Brew Beat
Dave Gershman / Beyond the Box Score:
Who Gets the Scoop?  Major League Reporters, Ranked.  —  Ever wonder if there were standings ranking America's best baseball reporters?  —  Wonder no more.  This actually took a few hours, but I've compiled the standings of Major League deals broken to the public by reporter by scouring MLBTR …
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 shortstops  —  Orioles' Machado tops list of young players on the rise … Teams will always say they are looking for talent up the middle.  True shortstops are a rare commodity indeed.  One who can hit and field almost automatically goes to the top of prospect lists.
RELATED:
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:   Prospect Watch: Top 10 second basemen
 
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 More News: 
Don't Kill the Mellinger:
Zack Greinke takes a break from vacation to talk about his friend Gil Meche
Discussion: Brew Beat
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Leyland excited about Tigers, ready for spring
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Hamilton on fast track to be Reds' leadoff man
Andy / Baseball-Reference Blog:
Omar Vizquel and 20 seasons under 100 OPS+
Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER:
Rizzo on Gorzelanny, Hairston
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Green shares approach in upcoming book
Fox Sports:
A's need to get moving or else
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Padres Agree To Terms With Chad Qualls
 Earlier Picks: 
Amy Shipley / Washington Post:
Study finds steroids are readily available through Amazon
Brian MacPherson / Projo Sox Blog:
Hazen on Ryan Westmoreland: “You know how bad he wants it”
Discussion: Boston Globe
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Jan. 11-17
Discussion: MLB Rumors and Talking Chop
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Trying to void an MLB contract: Three case studies
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Sign Jerry Hairston Jr.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Polo Grounds, and Its Former Tenants, Emerge From the Shadows
 

 
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Young Thug changes plea to guilty in Georgia's longest-running criminal trial

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Mariah Carey is (almost) ready to bring Christmas to you

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Diddy court witness says he saw 8 sex tapes with at least 2 celeb minors

 
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