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:
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:
ESPN.com
Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:
Red Sox keep tabs on free agent SS, starting at top with Jose Reyes
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, FenwayNation 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:
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:
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
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 …
RELATED:
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, Federal Baseball, The Good Phight and True Blue LA
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.
MLB.com:
Padres announce 2012 Spring Training schedule — Pitchers & catchers to report February 19; position players to report February 24 — SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres today announced their 2012 Spring Training schedule, in what will be the club's 19th spring in Peoria, Ariz.
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
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
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins offer to Albert Pujols is for less than $200 million; Roy Oswalt inquiry
Fox Sports:
Marlins appear serious about Pujols
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, Baseball Nation and MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Endy Chavez could catch on with NY Mets again in 2012 — OF who made famed grab in playoffs may be option off bench — Endy Chavez, shown with Mets in 2006, is on the Mets' radar as it looks for fourth outfielder. — MILWAUKEE — The left field fence at Citi Field …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Lone Star Ball and Amazin' Avenue
Where Have You Gone Joe:
Emperor Norton Sabean - Previously Owned Centerfielders — This is a Brian Sabean Analytical Calculator. If you think it resembles a 1980s era artifact sold in novelty shops under the aegis of “Bulls**t Grinder” you would not be wrong. For those of us who pay attention to such things …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Giants Win
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Star Players and Attendance — During yesterday's radio spot with Brock and Salk, Mike brought up the team's lagging attendance as a point in favor of splurging on a star player like Fielder who could serve as a gate attraction. After all, the team's revenues are tied to how many people …
Discussion:
Tedquarters and THE BOOK
