Top News:
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols to meet with Marlins, possibly Saturday — The wooing of Albert Pujols is about to get under way in earnest. — An industry source told MLB.com on Thursday that Pujols' camp is scheduled to meet in Miami with the Marlins within the next few days, possibly as early as Saturday.
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, Bleacher Report, Full Count, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Twinkie Town, Viva El Birdos, Baseball Nation, Deadspin and Florida Marlins
RELATED:
Matthew Leach / MLB.com's On the Beat:
Pujols, Marlins to meet — The wooing of Albert Pujols is about to get under way in earnest. — An industry source told MLB.com on Thursday that Pujols' camp is scheduled to meet in Miami with the Florida Marlins within the next few days, possibly as early as Saturday.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Riptide 2.0, Florida Marlins, Purple Row, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, The Mets Police and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Marlins to meet with free-agent Pujols — The Marlins' star search continues. — Club officials will meet with free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols either Friday or Saturday in Miami, according to major league sources. — The meeting, first reported by MLB.com, will be the Marlins' third of the week with a prominent free agent.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and New Jersey Online
Fox Sports:
Tom Powers: Twins are aware of risks in Venezuela — After landing in last month Venezuela, Minnesota Twins outfielder Joe Benson hopped in a cab for the trip to Maracay and the home offices of Tigres de Aragua, his winter baseball team. It wasn't long before the trip turned into a nightmare.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Juan Ferero / Washington Post:
Kidnapped Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is alive, police say
Discussion:
USA Today, Bleacher Report, IT IS HIGH! and Twinkie Town
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nats issue statement; Venezuelan authorities confirm kidnapped Wilson Ramos is alive
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Investigations under way in Ramos kidnapping
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and The Yankee Analysts
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos kidnapped in Venezuela
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Fish Tank blog, Bleacher Report, Rangers Blog, Baseball Nation and FanGraphs Baseball
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Francona in the wings — He's apparently ready, ‘deep down’ willing and clearly able to manage Cubs — If the new Cubs hierarchy really wants to hire the most qualified manager available, they already would have introduced Terry Francona or will soon. — But Francona …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NESN.com, Red Sox Monster and FenwayNation
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Fox Sports:
Newbie managers a gamble for teams — The White Sox can gush all they want about Robin Ventura. The Cardinals can do the same if they hire Mike Matheny. — I still don't like the idea of hiring a manager who has no previous managing experience and barely any coaching experience.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and SI Tracking Blog
Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers unlikely to pursue Pujols or Fielder — Texas Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan said the team likely won't get too involved in the market for first basemen Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder this offseason. — The Rangers are confident in Mitch Moreland, and believe some his struggles …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Angels blog, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Carroll Nearing Multiyear Deal With Unknown Team — Jamey Carroll is nearing a multiyear deal with an unknown team, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (all Twitter links). The Tigers, Rockies, Dodgers and Indians have been mentioned as potential suitors for Carroll …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, DRaysBay and Talking Chop
Tennessean.com:
Pete Rose serves players as unofficial advisor — Players contact banned ex-star for game advice — Pete Rose speaks in Nashville: Baseball Great Pete Rose talks to fans at LP Field Thursday evening about baseball and shares personal stories of all the greats he took the field with.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jeff Passan / ThePostGame:
From Another Era And Another Sport, A Sex Abuse Scandal Still Inflicting Pain Today — He remembers hearing the popping sound from far away. He didn't know what it was so he followed the noise from the house on Avenue O. Half a mile Leeronnie Ogletree ran, the pops getting louder, the intrigue multiplying until he saw the stadium.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Soxaholix and Halos Heaven
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Sign Rod Barajas — The Pirates announced that they signed catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year deal that includes a team option for 2013. Barajas will earn a $4MM salary in 2012 and the option would pay him another $3.5MM in 2013, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (on Twitter).
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Pirates, Barajas agree to one-year deal
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog and By Gosh, It's Langosch
Mike / Mike Scioscia's tragic illness:
Rod Barajas Heads to Pittsburgh
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, baseballmusings.com and ESPN
