Top News:
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Is Cy Young winner Verlander a fit for MVP? — It is the nature of things anymore to regard tomorrow above today, and so within a few minutes of his winning the American League Cy Young Award on Tuesday, Justin Verlander(notes) was asked to assess his qualifications as AL MVP, the result of which will be announced Monday.
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, Florida Marlins, MetsBlog.com, Fish Bytes, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, The Big Lead and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander takes AL Cy in unanimous vote — Dominant Tigers ace won pitching Triple Crown, threw no-hitter — DETROIT — The debate over MVP can wait. Justin Verlander wants to enjoy his American League Cy Young Award for a little while. — It might be the first time Verlander has allowed himself to rest on his accomplishments.
Discussion:
Bats, joy of sox, Call to the Pen, New York Times, FanGraphs Baseball, Batter's Box Interactive … and Beck's Blog
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Sabathia fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Bless You Boys, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards not interested in Fielder if Pujols leaves — Image — • Don't expect the Cardinals to be in the market for a first baseman should Albert Pujols leave the club via free agency. — On the same day he received a standard ovation from his peers in recognition …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Fox Sports
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies pursuing No. 3, No. 4 starter — MILWAUKEE — When the Rockies claimed Wandy Rodriguez on waivers in August, they privately realized the urgency of the situation. Colorado had leverage, willing to take on the entire $36 million remaining in his contract.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Purple Row
RELATED:
ESPN:
Terry Francona hasn't ruled out managing in 2012, but not for Chicago Cubs — Former Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona didn't completely rule out managing again in 2012, but he did pull himself out of the running for the Chicago Cubs job and said he would take a step back after not getting the St. Louis Cardinals position.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cherington: Red Sox planning to cut field to two managerial candidates
Discussion:
Over the Monster, NESN.com, MLB.com and HardballTalk
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees invite C.J. Wilson to New York to meet with team — MILWAUKEE — Pleased with what he termed general manager Brian Cashman's “aggressiveness,” the agent for free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson said tonight that the Yankees have invited him to New York to meet with team decision-makers.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, It's About The Money, Pinstripe Alley, ESPN, Bronx Baseball Daily, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Notes from Cashman: Trades, relievers and rotation plans
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, The Yankee Analysts and Pinstripe Alley
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ramos set to play in Venezuela Wednesday — Nationals treating catcher with care one week after abduction — WASHINGTON — Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is expected to play for Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League on Wednesday night. — Ramos' return to the field comes …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals kicking tires on Mark Buehrle, Tsuyoshi Wada — but not closers
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers sue Fox Sports, alleging interference in team sale — The Dodgers sued Fox Sports on Wednesday, alleging the television company is trying to “interfere with the sale of the Dodgers and their assets in bankruptcy.” — The suit was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and Mike Scioscia's tragic illness
Baseball America:
2012 Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …
Discussion:
Better Off Red, redsminorleagues.com and Red Reporter
Associated Press:
Maddon, Gibson named Managers of the Year — NEW YORK (AP) — Kirk Gibson of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays have been voted Managers of the Year. — Gibson won by a wide margin in the National League and Maddon was a clear choice in the AL.
Fox Sports:
Should pitching-rich Phils trade Hamels? — MILWAUKEE — Trading left-hander Cole Hamels would qualify as a surprise — but no greater a surprise than trading lefty Cliff Lee and acquiring righty Roy Halladay in December 2009, or signing Lee back last offseason.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Phillies Nation
Fox Sports:
Dodgers in no rush to ink Kershaw — Matt Kemp got his payday. Will ace lefty Clayton Kershaw get his? — MILWAUKEE — Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw eventually will get the Matt Kemp treatment. — Just not yet. And, as the Dodgers reduce payroll, don't expect them to sign any major free agents, either.
Discussion:
Washington Post and MLB Rumors
Joseph Smith / The Heater Feed:
Friedman: “wouldn't count on” trading a starting pitcher — There are likely to be a lot of speculation this offseason about the Rays trading from their surplus of starting pitchers to boost their offense. After all, with the emergence of LHP Matt Moore, RHP Alex Cobb to go along …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
David Laurila / FanGraphs Baseball:
Q&A: Eric Hosmer — Eric Hosmer finished third in this year's American League Rookie-of-the-Year balloting, but you might not want to bet against his going on to have a better career than the players who finished one-two. The left-handed-hitting Royals first baseman hit .293/.334/.465 …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Francisco robbed at gunpoint in Dominican — CINCINNATI — Reds third baseman Juan Francisco was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday in his native Dominican Republic, according to reports from that country. — Francisco, who was playing winter ball for the Licey club in the Dominican, was unharmed in the attack.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Mark My Word
Mike Fast / Baseball Prospectus:
Who Controls How Hard the Ball is Hit? — The last decade has seen much discussion and evolution in sabermetric thought around the relative abilities of batters, pitchers, fielders, and Lady Luck to control the outcome of batted balls. Data collected by Sportvision sheds new light on this question …
Discussion:
THE BOOK and Where Have You Gone …
