Top News:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Talented Cuban defector Cespedes is an odd sight — Cuban center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, who defected mid-summer and expects soon to be cleared for free agency, is being billed by his agents as the hitting version of Aroldis Chapman(notes) and is seeking a contract similar to the $30 million …
Discussion:
Florida Marlins, MetsBlog.com, Pinstripe Alley, ESPN, Bronx Baseball Daily, Full Count and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Yoenis Cespedes: The Showcase — I knew I was in for something special once I saw the email. — It was forwarded to me by a big league exec with a simple “You're welcome.” The original email was sent to nearly 200 people, a veritable who's who of the international scouting community.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Deadspin, River Avenue Blues, Baseball Nation, Amazin' Avenue, It's About The Money, Bluebird Banter and Tedquarters
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Cespedes' suitors said to include Yanks, Phillies — Into a free-agent market light on outfielders - light on everything but first basemen, perhaps - strolls Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, the promotional video Jose Canseco wishes he'd thought of, and now the jostling to see and sign him.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes on the Nationals' radar — The Washington Nationals may attempt to find their center field solution in the curious form of Yoenis Cespedes, a 26-year-old Cuban defector who will likely command a contract richer than $30 million.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Jonathan Sanchez For Melky Cabrera — The Royals acquired lefty Jonathan Sanchez and minor league starter Ryan Verdugo from the Giants for outfielder Melky Cabrera, announced the team. — Sanchez, 28, may have been a non-tender candidate for the Giants after a disappointing 2011 season …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com, FanGraphs Baseball, McCovey Chronicles and Yankees Fans Unite
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals get Sanchez from Giants for Cabrera — The Royals filled their biggest offseason need Monday by acquiring an impact arm for their rotation in getting left-hander Jonathan Sanchez from the San Francisco Giants in a trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera. — Sanchez, 28, battled injuries …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and WasWatching.com
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Royals reportedly set to corporately rename Kauffman Stadium — For perhaps $3-6 million annually over the next 21 years, the Kansas City Royals reportedly are willing to sell out their founder, the late Ewing Kauffman, and rename their ballpark after a bank.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Giants obtain Cabrera from Royals … KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals traded outfielder Melky Cabrera to the San Francisco Giants for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez on Wednesday, upgrading their starting rotation and clearing the way for hotshot prospect Lorenzo Cain to get a chance in center field.
Discussion:
Only Baseball Matters
Fox Sports:
Cuddyer won't help Phils get any younger — In many ways, Michael Cuddyer would be a classic Ruben Amaro Jr. signing — an older, high-character type, similar to Raul Ibanez in 2008 and Placido Polanco in '09. — There's just one problem. — Cuddyer, who turns 33 on March 27, will not make the Phillies any younger.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Dan Duquette agrees to become O's new GM — Served 10 seasons as general manager with Expos, Red Sox — BALTIMORE— The Orioles' general manager search is finally over, as former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette agreed to terms Sunday afternoon to fill the position vacated by president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.
Discussion:
Britt's Bird Watch and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Two approaches to managing have emerged
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Dan Connolly / Boston Herald:
Duquette interviews for a second time with Orioles for general manager
Discussion:
Camden Chat and The Big Lead
New York Post:
Source: Mets open to Wright deal — Mets on Twitter — Word continues to circulate in baseball circles that the Mets will be willing to discuss David Wright in trades this offseason as part of a complete facelift/rebuild away from Wright and Jose Reyes. — “We will listen on Wright for sure …
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, ESPN, FanGraphs Baseball, Amazin' Avenue, Bless You Boys, Full Count, HardballTalk, Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Backman shows loyalty to Mets
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Mets Merized Online
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Will payroll constraints cost Reyes?
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online and MetsBlog.com
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers investigating clubhouse leak — The Texas Rangers are investigating who recorded and then leaked manager Ron Washington's speech prior to Game 7 of the World Series. — “It's unacceptable for this type of thing to be out there,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Monday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Jamey Carroll with Rockies? That's tough choice to make — Creativity and flexibility remain critical to fixing the Rockies. — Yes, the drywall cracked in the clubhouse, leaving no doubt that the culture must change. Team-first over me-first. Got it.
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, Full Count, FanGraphs Baseball, True Blue LA, FenwayNation, Bucs Dugout, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk, Purple Row and Twinkie Town
Bgh / Viva El Birdos:
What Are the St. Louis Cardinals Looking For in a Manager? — More than any player Tony La Russa was the St. Louis Cardinals. The clichés of his tenure—playing a hard nine, taking the season one game at a time, making winning plays—came to define the Cardinals as an organization.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
