Top News:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs cap final four with Sandy Alomar Jr. — And on the ninth day, Theo rested. — Well, maybe not completely. But he and the rest of the Cubs' top front-office staff appear finished with the heavy work in their efforts to hire a new manager. On Friday, Sandy Alomar Jr. became the fourth …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Timing is everything in closing — Jonathan Papelbon will be missed in Boston, but not as badly as you might think … BOSTON — No word yet from the Dropkick Murphys on updated lyrics, now that Jonathan Papelbon has elected to ship out to Philly. — Papelbon always imagined himself in pinstripes.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, ESPN.com and MLB
csnphilly.com:
SOURCES: PHILS REACH DEAL WITH PAPELBON
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Surviving Grady and Amazin' Avenue
Michael Hurley / NESN.com:
Report: Jonathan Papelbon Agrees to Deal With Phillies, Ending Seven-Year Career With Red Sox
Discussion:
The Platoon Advantage, Crashburn Alley, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports and WasWatching.com
D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Phillies, Jonathan Papelbon agree to four-year contract
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, FanGraphs Baseball and baseballmusings.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies To Sign Jonathan Papelbon
Discussion:
Boston Globe, WEEI, CloserNews, Baseball Nation and Getting Blanked
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies look more aggressive in offseason market — It is often in a loss that a team reveals what it will do to win. — The Rockies were as aggressive as anyone in pursuing free-agent infielder Jamey Carroll. They wanted him for the clubhouse, for the lineup and for second base.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies show an interest in Sizemore — The Rockies continue to cast a wide net as they attempt to ramp up their offense, expressing interest in free-agent outfielder Grady Sizemore. — Sizemore, who has spent his entire career with the Indians, is one of the most intriguing names on the market …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Purple Row, MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Phil Stukenborg / The Commercial Appeal:
Charlie Lea, former major league pitcher, found dead at Collierville home — Former major league pitcher Charlie Lea, a star at Kingsbury High and then-Memphis State University before embarking on a successful pro career, was found dead in his Collierville home Friday. He was 54.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
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Associated Press:
Former MLB pitcher Charlie Lea dies in Tennessee at age 54 — MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Charlie Lea, who was the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues, has died. He was 54. — Collierville Police Lt. Doug Marshall confirmed Friday night that Lea was found dead …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Charlie Lea dies; Expos pitcher born in France, pitched no-hitter
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
New Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette among group headed to GM meetings in Milwaukee — New Twins GM Terry Ryan makes his return to GM meetings — Baseball's movers and shakers converge in Bud Selig's Milwaukee this week where the stalled collective bargaining agreement negotiations …
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Florida Marlins:
Miami Marlins on free agent offers: Loria says yes, Samson says no comment — You know what Marlins president David Samson needed Friday night? One of those memory erasing thingamabobs from Men In Black. Unfortunately for Samson, owner Jeffrey Loria revealed the existence of the aliens …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Rebranded Marlins make offers to Pujols, Reyes
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Florida Marlins and Associated Press
Philly.com:
DeSean Missed Meeting, Won't Play — When the Eagles' inactives are announced about 90 minutes before gametime today, there will be one very large surprise. — Wideout DeSean Jackson missed a meeting yesterday and was told he would not be in uniform for today's encounter with the Arizona Cardinals …
Discussion:
The Big Lead, ProFootballTalk and NESN.com
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals could look much the same in 2012 — Image — A year after carrying out a plan to enhance team chemistry and offense, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has charted a different course this winter, regardless of who succeeds Tony La Russa as manager and irrespective …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Wilson Ramos rescued, safe in Venezuela — Wilson Ramos has been rescued in Venezuela and is with the police on his way back home, his agent, Gustavo Mercano, said in a phone conversation. The Interior Minster called to tell the family at roughly 10 minutes before 10 p.m. East Coast time.
Discussion:
Angels blog
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Sports Illustrated:
Dodgers ready to play Moneyball … The Dodgers and general manager Ned Colletti, with his three decades in baseball, have gone sabermetric. In September the Dodgers hired Alex Tamin, a graduate of Johns Hopkins and UCLA School of Law, as Director of Baseball Contracts, Research and Operations.
