Top News:
ESPN:
New Cubs regime fires Quade, wants ‘clean slate’ … The Chicago Cubs fired manager Mike Quade on Wednesday, and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said the search for his successor begins immediately. — Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer met with Quade last week at Wrigley Field …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and MLB Daily Dish
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
New Cubs GM doesn't sugarcoat situation — Hoyer realizes work to be done but is undaunted — Jed Hoyer doesn't have to worry about who will get the credit if the Cubs win the World Series under his watch. — The new Cubs general manager probably will defer to his boss, Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Frank McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers — Frank McCourt agreed Tuesday to sell the Dodgers, abruptly surrendering the team after fighting to retain it over two years and in two courts. — McCourt and Major League Baseball have agreed to seek approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for an auction of the Dodgers.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, True Blue LA, L.A. NOW, Gaslamp Ball, Hardball Times, Baseball Nation, MLB, The Big Lead and 6-4-2
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Mark Cuban offered to buy Dodgers, but price was too high
Mark Cuban offered to buy Dodgers, but price was too high
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog, MLB Rumors and Los Angeles Times
Associated Press:
Dodgers, Red Sox boast 6 Gold Glovers — NEW YORK — Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier became the first trio of Los Angeles Dodgers to win NL Gold Gloves in the same year, and Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury became the first three Red Sox in 32 seasons to win the AL honor together.
Discussion:
ESPN, Cincinnati Reds, Nachos Grande, It's About The Money, Boston Herald, Diamond Hoggers, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Markakis resting, recovering from bone bruise — BALTIMORE — Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, who dealt with a pelvic issue that worsened the final few weeks of the regular season, said on Wednesday that he's still only about “75 percent” healthy. — Markakis isn't worried that the injury …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Gold Glove Award winners set to be unveiled
Gold Glove Award winners set to be unveiled
Discussion:
Royals Review, South Side Sox, TigerBlog, Halos Heaven, Lone Star Ball, Boston Globe, Camden Chat, AZ Snake Pit, NESN.com and Florida Marlins
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
What should the Marlins do with Chris Coghlan? — Around this time two years ago, Chris Coghlan won the National League Rookie of the Year award after a season that led many to believe the Marlins had found their next star player. — But Coghlan's stock has drastically dropped …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Not ruling out potential free agents like Albert Pujols, Marlins' Larry Beinfest stresses pitching and getting guys healthy — Whether the Marlins would shell out the cash for Albert Pujols, who's reportedly looking for a 10-year deal worth about $200 million, remains to be seen.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa might manage in All-Star Game — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who met with former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa a couple months ago in Milwaukee, wasn't necessarily surprised that La Russa stepped down on Monday. But Selig said on Tuesday that baseball will miss the 2011 World Series-winning manager.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, HardballTalk, SI Tracking Blog and Boston Herald
Dylan Hernandez / Dodgers Blog:
Juan Rivera closing in on deal with the Dodgers — Juan Rivera and the Dodgers are closing in on a one-year contract that would include a team option for 2013, according to baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized. The deal could be completed later this week.
Discussion:
MLB.com, FanGraphs Baseball, True Blue LA, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Fox Sports:
Sources: LaCava turns down O's job
Sources: LaCava turns down O's job
Discussion:
Britt's Bird Watch, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Full Count
Dan Connolly / Orioles Insider:
LaCava talks about his decision to turn down Orioles
LaCava talks about his decision to turn down Orioles
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Britt's Bird Watch, HardballTalk, School of Roch, True Blue LA and Camden Chat
Wallace Matthews / MLB:
Source: Yanks scared off by Oswalt back woes — Although the New York Yankees' offseason priority is adding a starting pitcher, there is one high-profile free-agent starter who has apparently been crossed off the team's shopping list. — No, it's not C.J. Wilson.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, SI Tracking Blog and ESPN
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Cashman saying a whole lot of nothing — GM hosts talk show after signing new contract — but offers no clear vision for Yanks … Brian Cashman spoke to the media at length on Tuesday — for 41 minutes and 50 seconds, to be exact — for the first time since the premature end …
RELATED:
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Cashman Unplugged (CC, Yu, Jorge, more)
Cashman Unplugged (CC, Yu, Jorge, more)
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and HardballTalk
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Cashman, Yankees finalize new 3-year contract
Associated Press:
D-backs catcher Blanco chooses free agency — PHOENIX — Catcher Henry Blanco has declined his end of a $1.15 million mutual option for 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. — The Diamondbacks exercised their options on Blanco and infielder Willie Bloomquist on Monday, but both opted to become free agents.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
James Bailey / Baseball America:
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe) — Sharing a division with the Phillies, the Marlins faced an uphill battle going into the 2011 season. First place in the National League East may not have been a realistic goal, but fifth place wasn't the destination most foresaw either.
Discussion:
Florida Marlins
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Expect David Wright to remain with NY Mets, for now — Never mind rumors, third basmen unlikely to be dealt over winter — Here is a prediction: There will be enough David Wright rumors this winter to fill the remaining space on the Internet. If you compile and print them, you will run out of toner.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com