Top News:
Fox Sports:
Phillies, Madson near $44M deal? — NewsCore — 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
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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:
Full Count, The Good Phight 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:
Amazin' Avenue
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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:
The LoHud Mets Blog, HardballTalk and Tedquarters
Vinny Cartiglia / MetsBlog.com:
Marlins may offer Reyes 3 year-deal high annual salary — Hanley Ramirez will not be in town when the Marlins host Jose Reyes this afternoon at their new ballpark, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The two infielders are very good friends, with Ramirez being Godfather to Jose's daughter.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Florida Marlins
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:
Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, Over the Monster and Rangers Blog
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox to interview Lovullo on Friday, Lamont on Saturday
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and Yahoo! Sports
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers Interested In Buehrle
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, South Side Sox, HardballTalk and Talking Chop
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox keep ticket prices the same
Discussion:
Hardball Times, The Soxaholix, MLB.com and FenwayNation
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 …
Denver Post:
Ian Stewart remains a possibility at third base for Rockies — The Rockies have a number of directions they can pursue to address third base, an offensive sinkhole last season. — While a trade cannot be ruled out — the top targets, Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox and David Wright of the Mets …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Pete Caldera / Boston Herald:
Yankees ready to enter arms race — The Yankees are sampling a wide marketplace for pitching, though it might be awhile until general manager Brian Cashman is ready to proceed to the checkout counter. — On the free agent front, Cashman already has reached out to Bob Garber …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Korean star pitcher Yoon could be in MLB in 2012 — Right-hander Suk-Min Yoon, the 2011 MVP of the Korean Baseball Organization who starred in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, could play in the major leagues as soon as next season, his agent said Tuesday. — Scott Boras, whom Yoon …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Duquette re-enters Majors with Orioles position — Former Red Sox GM introduced as VP of baseball operations — BALTIMORE — After more than nine years out of Major League Baseball, Dan Duquette was officially introduced Tuesday morning as the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations …
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