Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Report: Papelbon agrees to deal with Phillies — He's shipping out of Boston. — Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com is reporting the Phillies have an agreement with closer Jonathan Papelbon pending a physical. The deal is believed to be four years and close to $50 million with a vesting option for a fifth season.
Discussion:
joy of sox and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Phils eyeing Jonathan Papelbon — The Philadelphia Phillies continued to show “serious” interest in longtime Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon on Friday, as momentum toward a deal to bring back their incumbent closer, Ryan Madson, was disintegrating.
Discussion:
ESPN.com, MLB, MLB Rumors, Lone Star Ball, MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight and CloserNews
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:
Associated Press, Boston Herald, Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk, Red Sox Monster, NESN.com and FenwayNation
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies To Sign Jonathan Papelbon — Jonathan Papelbon's desire to set the market for closers was never a secret — it's now a reality. The Phillies have agreed to sign the 30-year-old to a precedent-setting four-year, $50MM deal that establishes the record for guaranteed money for a reliever.
Discussion:
CloserNews, Crashburn Alley and HardballTalk
Michael Hurley / NESN.com:
Report: Jonathan Papelbon Agrees to Deal With Phillies, Ending Seven-Year Career With Red Sox — Jonathan Papelbon is Philadelphia-bound. — The best available closer on the free-agent market agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, pending a physical, according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, The Platoon Advantage, FanGraphs Baseball, Bleacher Report and WasWatching.com
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.
RELATED:
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Pujols to visit Marlins, Jose Reyes ‘almost a done deal’ in Miami — Talk about a Miami Makeover. Not only are they about to become the Miami Marlins with a new stadium, new manager in Ozzie Guillen and new uniforms, but South Florida's Major League Baseball team might be getting a bunch of new players to fill all of that out.
Discussion:
Florida Marlins, Riptide 2.0, The Mets Police and Bleacher Report
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Report: Jose Reyes “almost a done deal” for the Marlins
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Matthew Leach / MLB.com's On the Beat:
Pujols, Marlins to meet
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Purple Row, Fish Stripes, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Twins, Jamey Carroll near deal — Free agent infielder Jamey Carroll is close to a multiyear agreement with the Minnesota Twins to be the team's everyday shortstop, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — Contract terms for Carroll weren't immediately available.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and VIN SCULLY IS MY HOMEBOY
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Carroll Nearing Multiyear Deal With Twins — 2:24pm: Carroll's nearing a multiyear deal with the Twins, according to Crasnick (on Twitter). He would be Minnesota's everyday shortstop. — 2:08pm: The Twins continue to pursue Carroll, according to Morosi (Twitter link).
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, DRaysBay, Talking Chop and Bluebird Banter
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Wilson Ramos abduction in Venezuela: Police gathering evidence, still no contact from kidnappers, 36 hours in — UPDATE, 10:25: Venezuelan authorites have turned to “advanced” investigation tactics, including aerial operations, the Associated Press reports from Venezuela.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Fish Tank blog, HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
RELATED:
Juan Ferero / Washington Post:
Kidnapped Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is alive, police say
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, IT IS HIGH!, USA Today and Twinkie Town
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:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Angels blog, MLB Daily Dish and Baseball Time in Arlington
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:
Getting Blanked, MLB Rumors and SI Tracking Blog
