Top News:
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Phillies decline options on Lidge, Oswalt — Club could attempt to bring both players back as free agents — PHILADELPHIA — It is no surprise the Phillies declined the 2012 options for right-handers Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. — If Oswalt's mutual option had been exercised …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Phillies Decline Options on Lidge, Oswalt — The Phillies officially declined the 2012 options for the contracts of right-handed pitchers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt, the club announced today. — “While we will not pick up either of their options, we will remain in contact with representatives …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, The Good Phight and River Avenue Blues
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Decline Options On Lidge, Oswalt — The Phillies announced that they have officially declined the 2012 options for right-handers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt. Lidge obtains a $1.5MM buyout instead of a $12.5MM salary and Oswalt obtains a $2MM buyout instead of a $16MM salary.
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers bankruptcy: Creditors ask judge to deny TV rights sale — From the day he took the Dodgers into bankruptcy, owner Frank McCourt has said that selling the team's television rights would enable him to put the Dodgers on solid financial ground, including full payment for all creditors.
Discussion:
ESPN
RELATED:
Bloomberg:
Selig Bends Rules to Fit as Baseball Attempts to Oust McCourt From Dodgers — The World Series will have just ended as a judicial Fall Classic may determine whether Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has complete power over the sport he has controlled for almost two decades.
Sports Illustrated:
Latest on Pujols, Wilson … ARLINGTON, Texas — The Great Albert Pujols added to his incredible legacy with his five-hit, three-homer performance for the ages in Game 3. But is there any chance this is the final Cardinals chapter of the iconic star's amazing St. Louis story?
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
New York Post:
Baseball needs replay to get calls right — I also think you can limit the delays. In the time it took Texas manager Ron Washington to argue futilely on Saturday night, every viewer knew Kulpa had made a mistake. So install a rule that any manager who leaves the bench receives a huge fine.
ESPN:
Ron Kulpa's call joins long line of errors
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, DRaysBay, Rays Index, ESPN, Florida Marlins, NESN.com and MLB Rumors
TSN.ca:
Rangers, Cards play crucial Game 5 in Arlington — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - Chris Carpenter tries to send the Cardinals back to St. Louis with a series lead this evening when they play a crucial World Series Game 5 against Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Twinkie Town and Associated Press
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Holland pitches gem as Rangers tie Series
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Red Sox to name Cherington GM … BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox are set to name Ben Cherington their new general manager on Tuesday. — The team announced on Monday that Cherington's promotion from assistant general manager will be announced at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and Boston Herald
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs hoping Epstein brings a cultural shift
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Boston Herald and baseballmusings.com
Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
Baseball on Fox — I was writing a quarterback factory post that I hope to have up in a little while, but as these things tend to go I went off on this long discourse about Tim McCarver and baseball announcers that sort of overwhelmed the whole thing. So I pulled that and use it here.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Drunk Jays Fans and Baseball Time in Arlington
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals leaning toward Lohse if there's a Game 7 — • The Cardinals would prefer not to face the decision but for now remain inclined to start Kyle Lohse in a possible Game 7. — Lohse endured a third consecutive abbreviated start this postseason during the Cardinals' 16-7 win over the Texas Rangers in Saturday's Game 3.
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Nation, CloserNews and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Astros sign three players to Minor League deals — HOUSTON — The Astros on Monday signed right-handed pitchers Alberto Arias and Jose Valdez and left-hander Xavier Cedeno to Minor League contracts. All three were outrighted by the club earlier this month.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Free Agent And Trade Market For First Basemen — The Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays, Indians, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals, and Dodgers could be in the market for first base help this offseason. Despite internal options at the position, the Angels, Mariners, Rangers, Marlins, and Nationals can't escape speculation either.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and JSOnline
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Chapman tosses hitless inning in AFL debut — CINCINNATI — Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman made his first appearance in an Arizona Fall League game on Monday, pitching one scoreless inning of relief. — Chapman, who was pitching for the Phoenix Desert Dogs against Salt River …
