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7:05 PM ET, January 21, 2011

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 Top News: 
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers going after Ramirez - Angels and Rays Also In the Mix  —  The Rangers are pursuing free agent outfielder/designated hitter Manny Ramirez.  He would be the big right-handed bat at DH and off the bench.  It would likely mean far more playing time for Michael Young at first base and would cut into Mitch Moreland's playing time.
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Rays talking to Johnny Damon  —  The Tampa Bay Rays are in discussions with free agent Johnny Damon to fill their vacant designated hitter spot and play some left field.  But a source familiar with the negotations said a report that Damon is close to agreement on a deal with the club is “very premature.”
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays reportedly closing in on deal with Damon
Discussion: DRaysBay
Joey Matschulat / Baseball Time in Arlington:
Report: Rangers “Aggressively Pursuing” Manny Ramirez
Fox Sports:
Sources: Angels to trade Napoli to Jays  —  FOX Sports  —  The Angels, largely dormant for much of the off-season, are set to trade catcher Mike Napoli to the Blue Jays, major-league sources say.  —  The deal will become official once the players involved pass physicals.
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays, Angels Swap Vernon Wells For Mike Napoli  —  5:41pm: Wells has waived his no-trade clause and underwent a physical in Anaheim today, Rosenthal reports.  Juan Rivera could also be headed to Toronto along with Napoli.  —  5:22pm: Rosenthal hears from a source that Toronto …
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 right-handed pitchers  —  Hellickson, Teheran, Drabek head list of potential future aces … The adage about never having enough pitching has some truth to it, and there appears to be plenty of pitching coming up through Minor League systems.
Discussion: Mariners blog
RELATED:
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:   Prospect Watch: Top 10 left-handed pitchers
Associated Press:
Judge: Former players must testify  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Some of Barry Bonds' former teammates, along with other retired Major League Baseball players and perhaps current player Jason Giambi, will have to testify at the slugger's upcoming perjury trial, a federal judge said Friday.
RELATED:
Howard Mintz / Mercury News:
Bonds case: Judge rules former pro athletes can testify in upcoming trial
Discussion: Fanhouse MLB Blog and HardballTalk
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Most underrated players in the game  —  The list includes Ryan Zimmerman, Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Ruiz, among others  —  The closer on my All-Underrated team, Trevor Hoffman, retired last week.  You probably caught wind of that someplace.  —  So what better excuse is there to kick off a bunch of spirited saloon debates?
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Sign Nick Punto  —  The Cardinals announced that they signed Nick Punto to a one-year deal, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach (on Twitter).  It's a $700K deal, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Agent Charles Schneider represents the longtime Twin.
RELATED:
Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins ready to do without ‘insurance policy’ Punto
Sports Illustrated:
Here's why Mark Teixeira could be the next Jason Giambi in pinstripes … Is Mark Teixeira facing a dip in his career?  The New York Yankees first baseman turns 31 in April and is coming off a season in which he hit .256 — 34 points below his lifetime average entering the year (.290).
Jeff Pearlman / CNN:
Tracking down my online haters  —  Editor's note: Jeff Pearlman is a columnist for SI.com.  He blogs at jeffpearlman.com.  —  (CNN) — Matthew is a college student from a small suburban town in Missouri.  He loves the Kansas City Chiefs and spending Sundays in front of the TV watching football.
Sports Illustrated:
Notes from an arbitration scorecard  —  • Prince Fielder's deal for $15.5 million, a record, was praised as a good one for the player.  “Very high,” one competing exec called the number.  Even so, it was nice to see the Brewers complete a wonderful winter by getting …
Discussion: NESN.com and SOX & Dawgs
Jim Shonerd / Baseball America:
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)  —  After winning back-to-back National League West titles and making consecutive NL Championship Series appearances in 2008-09, the Dodgers fell to fourth place last year.  As if its first losing record since 2005 wasn't bad enough …
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Lucchino anxious for 2011 season to start  —  BOSTON - Anytime you can hear the State of the Red Sox from a member of ownership, it's always interesting.  —  Team president and CEO Larry Lucchino was awarded with the Fuchs Award for meritorious service to baseball by the Boston Baseball Writers at the annual dinner Thursday night.
Discussion: Over the Monster, YFSF and joy of sox
RELATED:
Ted Berg / Tedquarters:
If park factor is so important, why don't they put it on the scoreboard? … - Jeff Francoeur.  —  OK, Jeff Francoeur, I don't want to come off as mean-spirited here or anything so please, don't take this the wrong way.  But here's the thing, bro: You're a terrible hitter.
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Mariners Reduce Peguero's Bonus To $1.1 Million  —  Dominican shortstop Esteilon Peguero, who signed with the Mariners for $2.9 million in December, has had his bonus reduced to $1.1 million, according to international sources.  —  Peguero, 17, originally signed with the Mariners on Dec. 7 …
Discussion: Mariners blog and MLB Rumors
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
New Met Young: My arm is ready to go  —  It was with little surprise that Mets manager Terry Collins announced Wednesday that he was handing the ball to Mike Pelfrey as his opening day starter.  And a day later the Mets officially secured the final piece of their rotation when Chris Young passed …
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets DFA Tobi Stoner and Jason Pridie
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Reds, Johnny Cueto agree  —  ORLANDO — Right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds avoided their first salary arbitration, agreeing to a four-year, $27 million contract extension, a source told ESPNdeportes.com.  —  The agreement is pending a physical exam.
RELATED:
Dan Mennella / MLB Rumors:
Reds, Cueto Agree To Four-Year Extension
Discussion: HardballTalk and Redleg Nation
 
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 More News: 
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Sign Jeremy Reed
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
What about Volquez?  —  When the Johnny Cueto deal becomes official …
Seth Samuels / FanGraphs Baseball:
We're Going Streaking (Again)
Discussion: THE BOOK
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Lt. Johnston finally reporting for duty
Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie admits Jenks' words stung, but Oney's went too far
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's odds and ends: 10 invites set, Duchscherer on O's radar, no changes with Vlad
 Earlier Picks: 
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield won't rule out pitching after 2011
Discussion: HardballTalk
Sam Mellinger / Kansas City Star:
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is damaging its legacy
Discussion: HardballTalk
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Molding of Clay advances
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Four Mets pitchers train with FDNY
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue and MetsBlog.com
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Blue Jays Sign Dominican Lefty Labour
Discussion: Drunk Jays Fans and MLB Rumors
 

 
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