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 Bytes, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Nation, Florida Marlins, The Big Lead, MetsBlog.com, Fish Tank blog, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Marlins serious about huge offers — MILWAUKEE — It's no joke, folks. — “We're dead serious,” Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. — The Marlins have made a nine-year offer to free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols at a “substantial” dollar amount, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
Florida Marlins
Fox Sports:
Marlins appear serious about Pujols — While many in the industry remain skeptical that the Marlins are sincere in their approach to free agency, the team's offers evidently were not for show. — The Marlins' proposal to first baseman Albert Pujols was for nine years at a “substantial” …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins offer to Albert Pujols is for less than $200 million; Roy Oswalt inquiry
Marlins offer to Albert Pujols is for less than $200 million; Roy Oswalt inquiry
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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:
MLB Daily Dish and Boston Globe
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Dale Sveum has second interview with Boston Red Sox … MILWAUKEE — Top Red Sox brass dined with managerial candidate Dale Sveum on Wednesday afternoon, but emerged from the meeting mum on whether they had decided on him as their next skipper. — “We're not going to say anything until …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Sources: Red Sox among clubs interested in Cordero
Sources: Red Sox among clubs interested in Cordero
Discussion:
FenwayNation, MLB Rumors, NESN.com and MetsBlog.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cherington: Red Sox planning to cut field to two managerial candidates
Cherington: Red Sox planning to cut field to two managerial candidates
Discussion:
Over the Monster and NESN.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:
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Sources: Cardinals' GM, Pujols' agent to meet
Sources: Cardinals' GM, Pujols' agent to meet
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN and MLB Rumors
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Maddon, Gibson named 2011's top skippers — Rays staged historic run to playoffs; D-backs went worst to first — Both men were responsible for remarkable turnarounds in 2011 — one on the drop of a dime in a one-month span, the other in stark contrast to the team's finish from a year previous.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts and Batter's Box Interactive …
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals kicking tires on Mark Buehrle, Tsuyoshi Wada — but not closers — Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo had a preliminary meeting Monday night with the agent for top free agent pitchers Roy Oswalt and C.J. Wilson, and before he leaves the GM Meetings here, he said …
RELATED:
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, Red Reporter, Redleg Nation and redsminorleagues.com
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:
CloserNews, Washington Post and MLB Rumors
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:
Purple Row and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Blue Jays acquire Kimball on waivers from Nats — TORONTO — The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Cole Kimball off waivers from Washington on Wednesday afternoon. — The Nationals had been trying to outright Kimball to Triple-A, but they were unable to get him through waivers.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers sue Fox Sports, alleging interference in team sale [UPDATED] — 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
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
Notes from Cashman: Trades, relievers and rotation plans
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley and The Yankee Analysts
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Ike Davis is healthy, back and ready to go — This afternoon at Citi Field, Ike Davis enthusiastically declared, “I'm healthy. I'm back. I feel great and I'm ready to go.” — According to Davis, his ankle injury is behind him and he's happy he didn't have surgery because, right now, it would mean he'd still be in a boot.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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:
River Avenue Blues, Baseball Prospectus, Phillies Nation and Baseball Nation