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:
Boston Herald, Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk, Red Sox Monster, NESN.com and FenwayNation
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies To Sign Jonathan Papelbon — 2:41pm: The sides agreed to a four-year, $50MM deal that includes a vesting option for 2016, according to Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (Twitter link). Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the fifth year option will vest easily (Twitter link).
Discussion:
CloserNews, Full Count and Crashburn Alley
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
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:
The Platoon Advantage, Bleacher Report, HardballTalk 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:
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
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
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, 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:
HardballTalk, Angels blog, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Time in Arlington 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:
Getting Blanked, MLB Rumors and SI Tracking Blog
