Top News:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Thome, Phillies agree to one-year deal — PHILADELPHIA — Jim Thome signified a rebirth of baseball in Philadelphia with his arrival in 2003. — He's coming back for possibly his final shot at a World Series championship. — Sources said Friday evening that the Phillies and Thome have agreed on a one-year contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, The Good Phight, Phillies Nation, Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Agree To Sign Jim Thome — Jim Thome to going back to his old stomping grounds. The Phillies have agreed to a one-year contract with the slugger, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com says the deal is worth $1.25MM (on Twitter).
Discussion:
Around the Majors, Crashburn Alley, Baseball Nation and DRaysBay
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees ‘certainly will talk to’ Wilson despite postseason problems — C.J. Wilson has won 31 games in his two seasons as a starter for the Rangers, becoming one of the best lefties in the game and perhaps the most sought-after free-agent pitcher this offseason.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
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DP Show / The Dan Patrick Show:
Brian Cashman: Yankees will not pursue Albert Pujols
Brian Cashman: Yankees will not pursue Albert Pujols
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, SI Tracking Blog and MLB Rumors
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny interviews with Cardinals; but no Francona yet — The Cardinals interviewed Mike Matheny for the manager's job today, but they didn't talk to former Red Sox manager Terry Francona. — Matheny, a former Gold Glove catcher with the Cardinals, is currently a minor-league instructor in the organization.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Associated Press:
AP Source: Cardinals Interview Matheny for Manager — ST. LOUIS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the search tells The Associated Press that former St. Louis catcher Mike Matheny has been interviewed for the Cardinals' vacant manager's job. He is the third person to be interviewed since …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats interested in free agent Oswalt to lead staff — WASHINGTON — After signing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year deal, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that he wants to add another veteran starter to the rotation. — According to a baseball source …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, SI Tracking Blog and MLB Rumors
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Howard Fendrich / Globe and Mail:
Chien-Ming Wang agrees to deal with Nationals
Chien-Ming Wang agrees to deal with Nationals
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Free Agents 2011 — Major League Baseball granted free agency to 537 minor league players on Nov. 2, five days after Game Seven of the World Series heralded the end of the 2011 season. The number of players in this year's free agent class is consistent with totals from 2010 (533 players) and '09 (536).
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Florida Marlins, River Avenue Blues, Bucs Dugout, By Gosh, It's Langosch and ESPN
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals' efforts to acquire the Braves' Jurrjens stall — The hot stove grew warmer this week for the Royals, whose offseason efforts to bolster their rotation led to discussions with the Atlanta Braves regarding right-handed pitcher Jair Jurrjens. — Those talks stalled when the Braves …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Royals Review, MLB Rumors and SI Tracking Blog
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Mets lay off nearly 10 percent of their non-playing employees — Before Game 7 of the World Series, reporters asked commissioner Bud Selig about the $25 million that Major League Baseball had loaned the New York Mets back in November 2010. Has Mets ownership, which has been fighting …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals pitcher Forsch dies at age 61 — Bob Forsch, one of a handful of pitchers to have two no-hit games and the third winningest pitcher in Cardinals history, collapsed at his home near Tampa Fla., and died suddenly Thursday night. — Early reports from his wife, Jan, were that Forsch …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Better Off Red, baseballmusings.com, SI Tracking Blog and Redleg Nation
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs 2K12: Job candidates will be asked to manage simulated game — Theo Epstein (center) and new Cubs execs Jed Hoyer (right) and Jason McLeod will put prospective managers through their paces in a daylong series of simulations. Charles Rex Arbogast~AP — How do you determine …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs manager interviews out of ordinary
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Citi Field tweaks help Bay, Wright — New changes will increase the Amazin's production, but pitchers will benefit as well — New York Mets left fielder Jason Bay's home run production at Citi Field may double as the result of changes to the ballpark's dimensions, while third baseman David …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Amazin' Avenue
Fox Sports:
Brewers hitting coach up for BoSox gig? — The Red Sox are early in their search for a new manager, but Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum appears to be the front-runner, according to rival executives. — Sveum, who turns 48 on Nov. 23, interviewed for the Red Sox's opening on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Vinny Cartiglia / MetsBlog.com:
Mike Scott admits to scuffing the ball in 1986 — “They can believe whatever they want to believe. Every ball that hits the ground has something on it. ... I've thrown balls that were scuffed, but I haven't scuffed every ball that I've thrown.” — ~ Mike Scott on accusations of
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