Top News:
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB Labor Deal Update: Increased Minimum Salary, hGH Testing, Additional Players in Salary Arb, More — On Friday, we announced that MLB was on the verge of a new labor deal. Here's the latest: — One More Day - We said that the deal between MLB and the MLBPA would be announced on Monday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
MILLER CRITICAL OF UNION — Marvin Miller, the founding executive director of the baseball players union, was confounded. He had just been told that his union had agreed to blood testing for human growth hormone, and he was bewildered. — “Oh boy,” he exclaimed. “What did they get for it?”
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Baseball Is to Begin Blood Testing for H.G.H. — Major League Baseball's owners and players are close to completing a new collective bargaining agreement that for the first time will include blood testing for human growth hormone, according to two people in baseball briefed on the matter.
Discussion:
Philly.com, Deadspin, MetsBlog.com, River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk and Rangers Blog
Associated Press:
New baseball labor deal includes HGH testing, $480k minimum … NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball's new labor contract will include blood testing for human growth hormone, a rise in the minimum salary to $480,000 and luxury taxes on both amateur draft signings and international free agents coming to the major leagues.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, HardballTalk, True Blue LA, Boston Globe, NoMaas.org and FenwayNation
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
From bad to worse in offseason — Can the Red Sox do anything else to boost their image as a doofus organization? — Remember when the Yawkey Way boys were a mere team, playing baseball games? — Not anymore. The Sox don't play games in November (they don't play in October anymore, either, come to think of it).
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and NotGraphs Baseball
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Dan Mennella / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Acquire Ty Wigginton From Rockies — The Phillies have acquired utility man Ty Wigginton from the Rockies in exchange for a player to be named or cash, Colorado announced on its official Twitter feed (link). — The teams will split Wigginton's $4MM 2012 salary …
Discussion:
The Good Phight, MLB Daily Dish and Phillies Nation
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Troy Renck / On the Rox:
Rockies trade Ty Wigginton to Phillies for player to be named later — Ty Wigginton was traded from Colorado to Philadelphina. — Looking to create playing time for Jordan Pacheco and some salary relief, the Rockies traded Ty Wigginton to the Phillies for a player to be named later or cash.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Braves have asked Yankees about shortstop Eduardo Nunez as trade posibilities grow — Braves could make stater Jair Jurrjens part of a deal — Brian Cashman has always said he never regretted clinging tightly to Eduardo Nunez back in July of 2010 when the young infielder might …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Sliding Into Home and River Avenue Blues
Fox Sports:
New push in A's San Jose quest — Finally, there is movement toward solving one of baseball's most vexing problems. — Baseball is trying to accelerate a decision on whether to allow the Oakland Athletics to relocate to San Jose, according to major league sources.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Athletics Nation
Canadian Press:
Bautista is AL MVP by large margin: Anthopoulos — Blue Jays GM points to slugger's offensive numbers, Gold Glove defence — Blue Jays' Jose Bautista recently won his second straight Hank Aaron Award as the most outstanding offensive performer in the American League after a vote by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Epstein immersing himself in Cubs' background — He's looking to determine what's good in organization and build upon it — Theo Epstein has had a month now to try to figure out this Cubs thing. — From the Wrigley Field offices to a Ukranian Village bar, Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer …
Jeff Bradley / New Jersey Online:
Yankees may need more RBI singles to find success in postseason — Analyzing the Yankees is never easy. — They win 97 games but leave you searching for reasons why they fell in a best-of-five American League Division Series to the Detroit Tigers. They go to the postseason 15 of the past 16 years …
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
UPDATED: Giants add Angel Villalona (no longer on restricted list) to 40-man roster, designate Darren Ford, Waldis Joaquin (4) — UPDATE: Giants VP Bobby Evans said Major League Baseball took Villalona off the restricted list and he is applying for his U.S. work visa now.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Giants Win and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Giants:
San Francisco Giants add Angel Villalona to 40-man, designate outfielder Darren Ford
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB Daily Dish
