Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Sveum headed to Cubs? — Sox may reopen manager search — Dale Sveum seems to be in good position regarding the Red Sox managing job - but the Cubs are interested in him, too. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) — MILWAUKEE - The Red Sox are prepared to open up their search for a new manager …
Discussion:
CBS Boston, Surviving Grady, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, FenwayNation and The Soxaholix
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Sources: Sveum accepts offer to manage Cubs — MILWAUKEE — Dale Sveum has accepted an offer to be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs. — Sveum — Sveum will be officially introduced on Friday morning at Wrigley Field, the team said. He succeeds Mike Quade, who was fired …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and ESPN.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers begin pursuit of new hitting coach — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers were already preparing for the departure of hitting coach Dale Sveum before the rival Chicago Cubs announced him as their new manager on Thursday. — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin spoke via telephone earlier …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:
Red Sox keep tabs on free agent SS, starting at top with Jose Reyes
Discussion:
Boston Globe, FenwayNation, MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs offer manager job to Dale Sveum; Mike Maddux backs out
Discussion:
Muskat Ramblings and MLB Rumors
Gordon Edes / ESPN.com:
Cubs offer Sveum managerial job, source says
Discussion:
ESPN, VFTB and MLB Rumors
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB adds two wild cards, moves Astros to AL — Two wild card teams will be added to Major League Baseball's playoffs no later than 2013, the same year the Houston Astros will begin play in the American League. — Commissioner Bud Selig announced Thursday that baseball's owners unanimously …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, FenwayNation and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
MLB Will Add Two Wild Card Teams — Commissioner Bud Selig announced that MLB will add two Wild Card teams — one in each league — for a total of ten playoff teams. Selig remains hopeful that the change will occur in 2012. — “People can be critical. I understand that,” …
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Pinstripe Alley
Richard Justice / Ultimate Astros:
Jim Crane officially approved as Astros' new owner; Astros moving to American League — MILWAUKEE — Jim Crane's purchase of the Astros from Drayton McLane was unanimously approved by Major League Baseball's owners this morning. — All that remains is a formal closing of the transaction, which likely will take place early next week.
Discussion:
Ballpark Digest, Babes Love Baseball and Bless You Boys
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
McLane Confirms Astros Will Move To AL West In 2013
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, MiamiHerald.com and Bucs Dugout
Michael Rosenberg / Boston Herald:
Expect more awards for Tigers' Justin Verlander — Justin Verlander won the Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote, which means he'll try to do better next year. This is how he is wired. He has an unwavering belief in his greatness. He expects to pitch a no-hitter in every start and improve every year.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, The Good Phight, Federal Baseball and True Blue LA
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA.com:
2011 NL Cy Young — Clayton Kershaw Rides Pitching Triple Crown to Award — Los Angeles Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw, a Triple Crown of pitching winner with league-best totals of victories (21), earned-run average (2.28) and strikeouts (248), won the National League Cy Young Award in balloting by the BBWAA.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Lone Star Ball and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Kershaw is the winner of NL Cy Young Award
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
MLB.com:
Francoeur happy to have Sanchez aboard in KC — KANSAS CITY — Even though Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur will miss having Melky Cabrera next to him in center field next season, he feels the addition of pitcher Jonathan Sanchez is a plus. — “I like it,” Francoeur said.
Discussion:
Royals Review
RELATED:
Paul White / USA Today:
Royals: Wave of talent starts to hit majors — Improving your victory total by four games doesn't make waves, especially when it's from 67 to 71. Just like moving up one position in the standings hardly tilts the balance of power in the American League Central— not when it's from fifth place to fourth.
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets make progress in raising $200M — NEW YORK — The New York Mets are making progress in their bid to raise roughly $200 million through selling minority ownership shares in the franchise, sources familiar with the sale told ESPNNewYork.com. — The infusion would help principal owner Fred Wilpon …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Fox Sports:
Sources: Molina close to joining Rays — MILWAUKEE — Free-agent catcher Jose Molina is close to signing a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that includes an option for the 2013 season, major-league sources told FOXSports.com. — A deal could be completed within the next several days.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Phillips, Reds ‘not close’ to contract extension — Club hasn't met with rep for free-agent closer Cordero — CINCINNATI — Always a prolific user of Twitter, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips mentioned Wednesday he hoped to learn about his future with the club, and then on Thursday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Pujols continues shopping after Marlins' offer — The contract offer made to Albert Pujols(notes) by the Miami Marlins seems to be about where the St. Louis Cardinals have lingered since spring training, or much closer to Joe Mauer's(notes) numbers than Alex Rodriguez's.(notes)
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Marlins serious about huge offers
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Florida Marlins and MLB Rumors
