Top News:
Fox Sports:
Rays, Jays and Angels go gambling — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — January 21 figured to be a quiet day in baseball, a day for teams to work on arbitration cases and point toward spring training.
Discussion:
St. Petersburg Times, FanGraphs Baseball, ESPN, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Sam Miller / Angels blog:
Trade in one word: Cash — I did word clouds for Angels fans' reactions to the Vernon Wells trade at Halos Heaven and Jays fans' reactions at Blue Bird Banter. I don't think I'll need to tell you which is which. (Click on them for a larger view.) — My favorite word from the Jays' chart: Jedi-Like.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Defenderdog / rallymonkeys:
A very big deal — Here's what I like about the Angels' big deal with Toronto: everything. — It's an old-fashioned baseball trade, two for one - a pair of sluggers in exchange for one slugger with a glove of gold. Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera should flourish in Toronto …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Reaction To The Vernon Wells Trade — Pundits are already chiming in on the huge Vernon Wells-for Mike Napoli/Juan Rivera trade between the Angels and Blue Jays this evening. A sampling... - Lyle Spencer of MLB.com likes the trade for both teams, noting that the addition of Wells gives the Angels “the makings of a dream outfield.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Batter's Box Interactive …, Al's Ramblings and BronxBanterBlog.com
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Angels trade for Vernon Wells
Discussion:
ESPN, Sons of Steve Garvey and Chicago Breaking Sports
Associated Press:
Angels Acquire All-Star CF Vernon Wells From Jays
Discussion:
True Grich and baseballmusings.com
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rays Agree To Terms With Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez — The Rays have agreed to terms with both Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, tweets Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. The deals are pending physicals. Damon's deal is worth $5.25MM plus a potential $750K in bonus money based on attendance.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, DRaysBay, NESN.com, The Process Report, Yahoo! Sports, Getting Blanked, SOX & Dawgs and YFSF
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Rays strike deals with Manny, Damon
Discussion:
Over the Monster and The Big Lead
Sports Illustrated:
Notes from an arbitration scorecard
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, NESN.com, Over the Monster and ESPN
Associated Press:
Giants and Torres Make a Deal — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have their roster ready for the start of spring training next month. — Center fielder Andres Torres and the World Series champions agreed to terms Saturday on a $2.2 million, one-year contract to avoid arbitration.
RELATED:
Howard Mintz / Mercury News:
Bonds case: Judge rules former pro athletes can testify in upcoming trial
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog and HardballTalk
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers, Loe avoid hearing, agree to deal — Reliever gets $1.25 million for 2011 after asking for $1.65M — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers and reliever Kameron Loe avoided a potential arbitration hearing by agreeing Friday to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies' Hammel signs two-year $7.75 million deal — Jason Hammel, happy and healthy during the team's commercial filming Friday, received further piece of mind today, signing a two-year, $7.75-million contract. Because he was a Super Two in terms of service time, Hammel will have one arbitration season remaining in 2013.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Galarraga Trade Talks Progressing, Deal Is “Likely” — 3:18pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson says that the Nationals are not interested in Galarraga because they do not consider him an upgrade over what they currently have in their rotation (Twitter link). — 2:48pm: Rob Biertempfel …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Beck's Blog
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Billy Butler Agrees To Extension With Royals — Billy Butler told MLB.com's Dick Kaegel that he and the Royals have agreed to a four-year, $30MM contract extension. The deal buys out all three of his arbitration-eligible years plus one year of free agency. Butler is represented by Greg Genske of Legacy Sports.
Discussion:
Royals Beat, MLB Daily Dish and Royals Review
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Sparky's No. 11 to be retired by Tigers — DETROIT — The Tigers will honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson from a patch on their right sleeves to the retirement of his No. 11 on the brick wall at Comerica Park. — Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski made the announcement …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Buehrle leaving all options open following 2011 — Veteran southpaw not thinking ahead to contract talks, retirement — CHICAGO — The “R” word once again came up when Mark Buehrle discussed his baseball future prior to Friday's start of SoxFest '11 at the downtown Palmer House Hilton.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
