Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers Sign Joe Nathan — The Texas Rangers have signed Closer/RHP Joe Nathan, to a 2 year $14.5 million contract that includes a buyout. Nathan will be introduced tomorrow at a news conference and is expected to take over the closer spot in the bullpen.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Boston Herald:
Signing All-Star closer sets Rangers in motion — FORT WORTH, Texas — A move that had been anticipated since March, but especially the past few weeks, was executed Monday night by the Texas Rangers. — Neftali Feliz is in the starting rotation, but the Rangers put him there in conjunction …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers sign closer Nathan; Feliz to rotation — The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with RHP Joe Nathan on a two-year contract with a club option for a third year, the team announced. The deal is worth $14.5 million plus a buyout. — The move means closer Neftali Feliz will move into the rotation …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Sign Joe Nathan — The Rangers' 2012 pitching staff just took shape and so did the rest of their offseason. The defending American League champions agreed with Joe Nathan on a two-year deal that includes a team option for 2014. Dave Pepe of Pro Agents, Inc. negotiated a $14.5MM guarantee for the four-time All-Star.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, CloserNews, Lone Star Ball and HardballTalk
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: Will Rangers push to re-sign Wilson?
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Susan Slusser / Oakland Athletics:
A's aren't sending Andrew Bailey, Gio Gonzalez anywhere - right now — There were fevered reports today about the A's trading Andrew Bailey to the Reds and Gio Gonzalez to the Marlins, and it's apparent after several phone calls and emails that those reports aren't originating with anyone …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily
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Clark Spencer / Fish Bytes:
C.J. Wilson to visit Marlins — C.J. Wilson is making the rounds, and one of his East Coast stops will include a post-Thanksgiving visit to South Florida to meet with the Marlins, who seem to be throwing out the welcome mat for every available free agent. The Marlins met with Wilson's agent …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels manager, GM to dine with C.J. Wilson Monday night — The Angels' pursuit of free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson will continue Monday night when Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Jerry Dipoto have dinner with the veteran left-hander in Los Angeles.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Valentine is the right Sox fit — He is married to the daughter of Ralph Branca, who threw the gopher ball to Bobby Thomson at the Polo Grounds in 1951. His first roommate in professional baseball was Bill Buckner, when the two were drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968.
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The latest on the search for a manager
Discussion:
Hardball Times and FenwayNation
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Explaining my MVP ballot — The American League MVP was just announced and as one of the two voters from Boston, accountability requires revealing who was on my ballot. — Two BBWAA writers from each AL city vote, ranking their selections 1-10. Voting is based on the regular season and ballots are due before the postseason.
Discussion:
TigerBlog, NESN.com, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, MLB Rumors and Beyond the Box Score
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander turns double play, wins AL MVP
Discussion:
True Blue LA, BBWAA.com, joy of sox, The House That Dewey Built, Bugs & Cranks and ESPN
Evan Grant / Rangers Blog:
Justin Verlander wins MVP; one man's MVP ballot
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Baseball Nation, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, Drunk Jays Fans and FenwayNation
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks announce ticket info; new plans on tap — Majority of prices to remain unchanged or will be reduced for 2012 — NEW YORK — The Yankees have announced general ticket information for regular-season games played at Yankee Stadium, stating that more than 70 percent of prices will be reduced or unchanged.
Discussion:
Bats
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
MLB, players set to announce labor deal — Valid through 2016, new agreement includes testing for HGH — NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a preliminary agreement on a new five-year Basic Agreement and are expected to announce it on Tuesday afternoon …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Mike Silva's … and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Inbox: Any prospects set to make big impact? — Beat reporter Chris Haft answers Giants fans' questions — Is there someone in the Minor Leagues who might be a breakthrough player in 2012? Or is it wishful thinking on my part? — Right-hander Heath Hembree generated plenty of excitement …
Discussion:
Giants Win, Bay City Ball and McCovey Chronicles
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets sign Adam Loewen to minors deal — According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Mets have signed RF Adam Loewen to a minor league contract. — Loewen, who will be 28 in April, is a converted pitcher and has primarily played right field since 2008.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Mike Fast / Baseball Prospectus:
How Does Quality of Contact Relate to BABIP? — In the first part of this study, I used detailed batted ball speed information from HITf/x to examine the degree of skill that batters and pitchers had in quality of contact made or allowed. Here, I will look deeper into the question …
Discussion:
Purple Row, Seattle Sports Insider and THE BOOK
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Greg Halman stabbed to death in the Netherlands — PHOTO CAPTION: Greg Halman was part of a European tour of MLB players that passed through Prague, Czech Republic, two weeks ago, where he posed with some fans. Today, he was stabbed to death in The Netherlands. (Photo Credit: Robert Vavra)
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Conor Glassey / Baseball America:
Greg Halman Murdered
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …, seattlepi.com and Hardball Times
