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.
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Countdown to Marlins' relaunch under way — It's time for Major League Baseball's hottest new look. You can see it and get it for yourself at Marlins.com tonight, when the Miami Marlins Unveiling is streamed live. — The countdown is under way for the much-anticipated relaunch of this franchise …
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:
Fish Stripes, MLB Daily Dish, Purple Row, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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:
MLB Rumors, The Good Phight, CloserNews and ESPN
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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.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Papelbon back in play for the Phillies — The Phillies have denied reports that they had a four-year, $44 million deal in place with Ryan Madson. That apparently means Jonathan Papelbon is back in play for Philadelphia. — According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Phillies have “serious” interest in Papelbon.
Discussion:
FenwayNation
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
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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
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
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Carroll Nearing Multiyear Deal With Unknown Team — 12:50pm: The Twins have had recent discussions for Carroll and continue to pursue him, according to Morosi (Twitter links). — 12:19pm: The Braves and Indians aren't finalists for Carroll, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, DRaysBay, Talking Chop and Bluebird Banter
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:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk, Red Sox Monster, NESN.com and FenwayNation
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:
HardballTalk, Angels blog, Baseball Time in Arlington, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
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
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
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:
Pirates Prospects, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
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