Top News:
Fox Sports:
Phillies, Madson discussing $44M deal — Will the Phillies re-sign Ryan Madson or won't they? — The answer is still not known. — The Phillies were close to agreeing with Madson on a four-year, $44 million free-agent contract, according to numerous reports on Tuesday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Rangers must make splash in free agency — The Rangers need to change the conversation, and I'm not talking about manager Ron Washington's earthy speech to his players before Game 7 of the World Series. — No, I'm talking about spring training, when the team will want to move past its crushing Series defeat.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and Rangers Blog
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Madson, Phillies talking multiyear deal … Free agent closer Ryan Madson and the Phillies reached an agreement on a deal for $44 million over four years, but the contract has been awaiting the approval of Phillies general partner David Montgomery for more than a day now.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, The Good Phight, CBSSports.com Blogs, Full Count and NESN.com
Alex Speier / WEEI:
MONEY IN THE NINTH: RYAN MADSON DEAL RAISES BAR FOR JONATHAN PAPELBON, CLOSER MARKET — Well, that didn't take long. — The starter's pistol for free agent closers went off on Tuesday, and teams in the market for free agent closers were floored when it did so.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
John Harper / NY Daily News:
If free agent Jose Reyes goes, so does NY Mets' hope — Cost-cutting team can't pretend to be contender without him — For weeks, it has seemed likely the Mets were going to retain Jose Reyes only if he fell in their laps. Maybe they had a chance if other teams were scared off …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Amazin' Avenue and Fish Bytes
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New York Post:
Rap song reveals Reyes' free-agent feelings — Mets on Twitter — So, what's in a rap song? Perhaps, the key to Jose Reyes' free agent future. — While on hold waiting to speak with someone from Peter Greenberg and Associates, the agency that represents Reyes, I heard a familiar, high-pitched voice.
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, HardballTalk, The LoHud Mets Blog and Tedquarters
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins president Dave Samson talks free agents, Josh Johnson, Hanley Ramirez
Vinny Cartiglia / MetsBlog.com:
Marlins may offer Reyes 3 year-deal high annual salary
Discussion:
Florida Marlins and baseballmusings.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Progress made in labor talks — Negotiations in Major League Baseball's stalled labor talks have taken “a step forward” this week, according to one source familiar with the discussions, and a second source told ESPN.com it's possible a deal could be completed this week.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, SI Tracking Blog and MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Crasnick: Seven offseason questions for baseball executives — Pursue Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder? Go after C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle? Plus ... ESPN.com — Major League Baseball's general managers will gather next week in Milwaukee as a prelude to the quarterly owners' meetings.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and DRaysBay
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
No Winter Ball for Chapman — Aroldis Chapman is back throwing pain-free, but winter ball is no longer part of his offseason plan. — “We've decided against sending him to Puerto Rico,” GM Walt Jocketty said. “He's on a strength-and-conditioning program in Arizona.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Redleg Nation
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Bucs keep perspective with payroll flexibility — PITTSBURGH — Payroll has been a hot-button topic in Pittsburgh for years and likely will be as long as the Pirates' payroll figure remains among the lowest in the Majors. The Pirates opened the 2011 season with the 27th-lowest payroll …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
ESPN:
Ex-Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade didn't want other position with team — Former Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade said Wednesday he doesn't believe his fate was sealed by the lack of a quality roster for the 2011 season. — Quade was fired by new president of baseball operations Theo Epstein …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals interview Francona — The Cardinals interviewed former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona today in their process to replace Tony La Russa. — The interview took place in Cincinnati, where Cards chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. resides and operates his private equity firm, Reynolds DeWitt & Co.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Baseball Prospectus, NESN.com, Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox to interview Lovullo on Friday, Lamont on Saturday
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Yahoo! Sports and Surviving Grady
