Top News:
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 Bluebird 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:
Halos Heaven, HardballTalk, Drunk Jays Fans and Fox Sports
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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:
Lone Star Ball, Sports Illustrated, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Jonah Keri / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Manny Effect — Many years ago, when Jacobs Field was shiny and new, I was friendly with this girl from Cleveland. Everyone in her family was a big Indians fan, and Manny Ramirez was just coming into his own as one of the greatest right-handed hitters the game would ever see.
Discussion:
St. Petersburg Times, It's About The Money, HardballTalk, Mets Merized Online and ESPN
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:
Batter's Box Interactive …, HardballTalk, Al's Ramblings and BronxBanterBlog.com
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Angels trade for Vernon Wells
Discussion:
Rany on the Royals, ESPN, Sons of Steve Garvey, 6-4-2 and Chicago Breaking Sports
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Terry Collins Aiming to Eliminate Questions — “There's so much attention on the New York Mets and spring training I wanted to be able to limit the questions we had to deal with. Obviously we'll have questions about [Oliver Perez], we'll have questions about [Luis Castillo] …
Discussion:
Buffalo News and baseballmusings.com
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.
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Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Nolan Ryan predicts 90-95 wins — ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan predicted 90 to 95 wins for his 2011 ballclub. — Ryan shared his thoughts on the team with a large group of fans at the Rangers' Fan Fest on Saturday at Arlington Convention Center.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Angels blog
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:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Billy Butler Agrees To Extension With Royals — 8:03pm: The Royals have confirmed the agreement in a press release. It's a four-year contract with a fifth year option for 2015. — 10:11am: Billy Butler told MLB.com's Dick Kaegel that he and the Royals have agreed to a four-year, $30MM contract extension.
Discussion:
Royals Beat, Royals Review, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and USA Today
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Armando Galarraga Rumors: Saturday — 5:20pm: Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks are making a strong push for Galarraga and the two sides are exchanging names. He says that Single-A right-hander Kevin Eichhorn has been discussed, and it appears as though …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Arizona Republic and Beck's Blog
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
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Manny, Damon to sport Rays colors in 2011 — One-year deals bring proven veterans to Tampa Bay's lineup — ST. PETERSBURG — Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez will be joining the Rays for the 2011 season after each agreed to a one-year deal Friday night. — According to a Major League source …
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rays Agree To Terms With Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, DRaysBay, The Process Report, NESN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Getting Blanked, SOX & Dawgs, Yankeeist and YFSF
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Rays strike deals with Manny, Damon
Discussion:
Over the Monster and The Big Lead
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
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