Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Boston Herald:
No progress in Red Sox-Cubs negotiations — Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told reporters Wednesday there has been no progress in negotiations with the Cubs over compensation for Theo Epstein. — The two hope to hash it out in Milwaukee next week at the general managers' meetings, which begin Monday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
RELATED:
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Epstein compensation may be decided soon — Red Sox bring in McClure to a scouting-advisory role — BOSTON — Ben Cherington's installment as the Red Sox's general manager has still left some unresolved issues. — The Sox have not yet announced how they're re-organizing …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Sandy Alomar Jr Interviews for Red Sox Manager Job
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Boston Globe and ESPN
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Sandy Alomar Jr interviews for Red Sox manager job
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Car used by abductors of Nats' Ramos found … CARACAS, Venezuela — Officials said Thursday they have found the vehicle used by armed men who abducted Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, a case that highlights a sharp rise in kidnappings in Venezuela.
Discussion:
MLB
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Report: Wilson Ramos kidnapped in native Venezuela — Awful news to pass along. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela, according to his Venezuelan winter league team. — Ramos, 24, had gone home for the winter and planned to participate …
Shemar Woods / NY Daily News:
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos kidnapped by four gunmen in Venezuela — Ramos returned home to play for Tigres de Aragua — Wilson Ramos is missing after returning home to play winter baseball. — Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped in his hometown of Valencia …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and Bleacher Report
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos kidnapped in Venezuela
Discussion:
Rangers Blog, Getting Blanked, FanGraphs Baseball and Baseball America
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers, Kemp discussing long-term contract — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers, unlikely to pursue top-tier free agents Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder because the team is for sale, nonetheless are in negotiations on a long-term contract for Matt Kemp that have had “more substance lately,” according to a baseball source.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Kemp's agent hopes to reach new deal ‘soon’ — The agent for Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder and National League Most Valuable Player candidate Matt Kemp said Wednesday that talks on a long-term contract extension for his client are moving in a positive direction and that he is optimistic an agreement will be reached.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and HardballTalk
Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
Posada on return to Yanks: ‘Not gonna happen’ — NEW YORK — Jorge Posada remains undecided on his future, but believes it won't be with the New York Yankees. — “It's not gonna happen,” Posada said Wednesday night at a Manhattan function for The Jorge Posada Foundation.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Associated Press, Sliding Into Home and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Jorge Posada says return to Yankees is ‘not going to happen,’ catcher may be staring at retirement — Former catcher says he will ‘always be a Yankee’ — Has Jorge Posada waved goodbye to the Yankee Stadium faithful for the final time? — The Jorge Posada era in New York is over.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Mike Silva's …
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman still getting feel for pitching market
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues and The Yankee Analysts
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Beltran, Cespedes offer shoppers intriguing contrast — There's not a whole lot out there on the outfielder market, which is why it'll probably be good to be a young Cuban with a free-spirited video, and why it'll definitely be good to be Carlos Beltran(notes).
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins escort Reyes on tour of Miami
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog and Florida Marlins
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
MetsBlog Q&A: Cerrone talks to Sandy about spending — Tonight, Sandy Alderson will be a guest on this season's debut episode of SNY's Mets Hot Stove Report, which airs every Thursday night at 7 pm ET. — Last week, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone caught up with Alderson for a quick …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Don't count out Angels on big names — Jerry Dipoto, newly appointed senior vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles Angels, says not to count out the franchise as a player in the free-agent sweepstakes for Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. — “Don't assume that we have no interest …
Discussion:
Angels blog and MLB Rumors
Laurel Pfahler / TCPalm.com:
Q&A: Bob Larsen still a fan, but not of new Yankee Stadium — VERO BEACH — Baseball fans in Vero Beach grew accustomed to seeing former Dodgers legends roaming the backfields of “Dodgertown.” — This week, they have had the opportunity to see some Yankee greats, too …
Discussion:
IT IS HIGH!
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Minor Moves: Erick Almonte — The latest minor moves... - The Brewers re-signed Erick Almonte, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The 33-year-old utility player appeared in 16 games for the Brewers in 2011, playing first base and right field.
Denver Post:
Rockies talking with Braves about infielder Martin Prado — With the Braves open-minded about trading players, the Rockies have contacted them about infielder Martin Prado, according to a major-league source. — The Rockies, who scouted Prado extensively last season …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Purple Row, Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
The Mets Could Go From Bad to Dreadful — We are conditioned to think of the American League East as baseball's superpower division. The Yankees and the Boston Red Sox spend lavishly. The Tampa Bay Rays have made three playoff appearances in the past four seasons.
Discussion:
The Mets Police
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees looking at Cuban outfielder — Yankees pitching guru Rick Williams' arrival in Santo Domingo yesterday created a buzz throughout the scouting fraternity in the Dominican Republic that has been following the workouts of Cuban refugees. — However, the Yankees appear to be more interested …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Scouting Cespedes Aftermath
Discussion:
Over the Monster, joy of sox, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
