Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Sabathia to opt out of Yankees contract, become free agent … Left-hander CC Sabathia plans to opt out of his long-term contract with the Yankees by the Monday night deadline and become a free agent, SI.com has learned. — Sabathia, 31, has four years worth $92 million left on his current seven-year …
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Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Source says Yankees extend offer to Sabathia — According to a New York Yankees executive, the terms of a renegotiated deal for pitcher CC Sabathia were transmitted to his representatives over the weekend, but the team has yet to receive a response. — “We believe it is a very fair offer,” the executive said.
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox exercise 2012 option on Scutaro — Talk about a nice birthday present. The Red Sox today picked up their $6 million team option on Marco Scutaro. — The shortstop, who turned 36 today, hit .299 with a .358 on-base percentage in 2011 over 113 games. He hit .387/.438/.581 in September.
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Red Sox will talk to Mackanin, Sveum this week — The Boston Red Sox will begin talking to managerial candidates in the coming days, with Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum set to interview for the job this week, general manager Ben Cherington confirmed Sunday.
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Rob Bradford / WEEI:
MACKANIN, SVEUM TO BE INTERVIEWED THIS WEEK — According to a major league source, the Red Sox will interview Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum for the Sox' managerial opening early this week. The two represent the first candidates to be interviewed for the position.
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Associated Press:
Hundreds of Thousands at Cardinals Parade, Rally — ST. LOUIS (AP) — A red sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis Sunday to honor the World Series champion Cardinals and send a clear message to Albert Pujols: Please stay. — An official crowd estimate was not immediately available …
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Associated Press:
Report: Giants' Javier Lopez to re-sign — SAN FRANCISCO — Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. — Lopez
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Aramis may be headed for free agency — CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez appears headed for free agency. — The Cubs announced Sunday night that they will exercise their side of the $16 million option for 2012, and the third baseman has two days to declare his interests.
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Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Ranking postseasons: 1995-2011 — It was fun while it lasted. The 2011 postseason with its World Series for the ages is now over. Its end brings a question to my mind—where does it rank among all postseasons? — More specifically, where does it rank among other postseasons of the three-round era: LDS, LCS, and World Series.
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HardballTalk
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Official free agency list — Here is the official free-agency list supplied by the union ... Atlanta Braves — Gonzalez, Alex — Linebrink, Scott — Nate McLouth — Nate McLouth — #13 CF — Atlanta Braves — 2011 STATS — GM81 — HR4 — RBI16 — R35
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Associated Press:
MLB squad arrives in Taiwan for 5-game series — TAIPEI, Taiwan — An All-Star team of major leaguers led by New York Yankees stars Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson arrived in Taiwan on Sunday, less than 48 hours after the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 7 of a scintillating World Series.
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