Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Cano's agent wants contract redone; Yankees GM hasn't returned call — ST. LOUIS — Robinson Cano's effort to get his two club contract options deleted and a new deal hasn't penetrated the wax in the Yankees' ears. — Nevertheless, the team is more open to signing left-handed ace CC Sabathia …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Boras Aims To Remove Cano's Options, Re-Work Deal — Agent Scott Boras phoned Yankees GM Brian Cashman to discuss the possibility of re-working Robinson Cano's contract, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. Boras says he's hoping to remove the 2012 and 2013 options …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and The Yankee Analysts
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
CC Sabathia opt-out clause looms over Yankees, who close in on signing Brian Cashman for 3 years — The Yankees moved closer to a deal with Brian Cashman to remain as their general manager and also worked on a plan for answering their biggest on-field question of the offseason …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
David Waldstein / Bats:
New Offer for Sabathia in the Works — ST. LOUIS — The Yankees are close to completing a new contract proposal for the left-hander C.C. Sabathia, which they intend to present to him before he can opt out of his current contract, according to a baseball executive who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, NESN.com and New York Post
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees reliever Soriano won't opt out
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and It's About The Money
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Aim To Sign Sabathia Before Opt-Out Date
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts, Pinstripe Alley, Associated Press, WasWatching.com and Bronx Baseball Daily
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
La Russa no fan of ‘Moneyball’ — Cardinals skipper has his own ideas — ST. LOUIS - After Major League Baseball pulled the plug on Game 6 of the World Series last night, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he planned to go see the movie “Moneyball,” even though he despises the concept the film is based on.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, THE BOOK and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright looks back, and ahead — With so much talk Wednesday at Busch Stadium centering on what starter could pitch Game 7 of the World Series if the Cardinals win Game 6 tonight, rehabbing righthander Adam Wainwright had a suggestion for his coaches. — He offered to skip today's scheduled side session.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Pujols defends hit-and-run play — First baseman Albert Pujols reiterated his belief Wednesday that the abortive hit-and-run he ordered during the seventh inning of Monday's Game 3 was a sound idea and in keeping with the understanding he shares with manager Tony La Russa.
David Waldstein / New York Times:
The Only Pitcher's Name That La Russa Got Right
Discussion:
NotGraphs Baseball
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cherington is making his list — Search for a manager kicks into next gear — The Red Sox have not had a manager for four weeks now, Terry Francona having left Fenway Park Sept. 30. — Making up a list of candidates to fill that vacancy has taken up much of Ben Cherington's time since.
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Scott Lauber / Clubhouse Insider:
Source: Blue Jays ‘will not rule out’ a pursuit of David Ortiz
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Batter's Box Interactive …, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Alvaro Aristy Faked Age, Identity For $1 Million Bonus — Scandal one of biggest known fraud cases since Esmailyn Gonzalez — Alvaro Aristy signed with the Padres three years ago for $1 million. Neither his name, his age nor his talent has proven to be legitimate.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Draft slotting system still being debated — Late last night, The Associated Press moved an update on MLB's negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The last major issue involves a slotting system for the draft. Putting such a system in place would eliminate a team's ability …
Discussion:
Respect Jeter's Gangster and baseballmusings.com
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Draft Bonuses Last Major Issue In CBA Talks
Discussion:
MiamiHerald.com
Ramona Shelburne / ESPN:
Dodgers: Bryan Stow shares blame — The attorney for embattled Dodgers owner Frank McCourt filed a civil complaint against the two men charged in the Opening Day beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, arguing that they should be held liable for the attack …
Discussion:
San Francisco Giants
ESPN:
New player in Yanks RF derby: Beltran — Not long ago, it was considered a slam-dunk that the Yankees would pick up Nick Swisher's $10.25 million option for 2012, despite another miserable postseason performance. — Now, it's not so clear. — The reason?
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and Baseball Nation
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Stark says the Phillies like David Wright — In an interview with host Mike Missanelli on 97.5 FM in Philadelphia, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark said: … Phillies manager Charlie Manuel indicated after the post season that his team should seek an upgrade at third base this offseason …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
MADDON: ANY POTENTIAL BAN ON BEER ‘ASININE’ — Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, speaking from his Huntington Beach, Calif. home Wednesday, strongly criticized the idea that beer needed to be banned from clubhouses in Major League Baseball, calling such a move “asinine.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers preparing to take next step in 2012 — MILWAUKEE — Barely 48 hours had passed since the sudden end to the Brewers' 2011 season when general manager Doug Melvin started facing the questions about 2012. Melvin summed up his challenge by asking a question himself.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Hoyer, McLeod To Join Cubs; Byrnes Now Padres GM — Theo Epstein's first deal as the Cubs' president of baseball operations may be one of the most significant moves of his tenure in Chicago. The Cubs and Padres have confirmed that San Diego GM Jed Hoyer and assistant GM Jason McLeod …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Yahoo! Sports
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