Top News:
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
WITH THIS WOULD-BE MANAGER, V IS FOR LOSER — The Boston Red Sox, trying to replace the Chicago Cubs as modern-day lovable losers, may be on the verge of extending their September swoon into a December descent. They may not realize it, but if they hire Bobby Valentine as their manager they could be adding injury to insult.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Sox finalists: Bobby Valentine, Gene Lamont — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — It's down to two. — The long and winding Red Sox [team stats] managerial search has entered its final stages, and barring a surprise, the team has whittled its list to a pair of finalists: Gene Lamont and Bobby Valentine.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Boston Globe, Mets Merized Online, Full Count and MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
No new manager until next week — Here's what we know in terms of finding a new manager: — Nothing will be settled today according to team sources and the earliest an announcement will be made is next week. Gene Lamont did indeed meet with ownership earlier this week, so he joins Bobby Valentine in that regard.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Hartford Courant
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Blue Jays acquire infielder Valbuena from Tribe — CLEVELAND — The Indians traded infielder Luis Valbuena to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations on Saturday. — Valbuena, who showed promise a couple of seasons ago with the Tribe, had been designated for assignment on Nov. 18 …
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, Amazin' Avenue, Batter's Box Interactive … and Bluebird Banter
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Zack Meisel / MLB.com:
Indians make minor changes to uniforms — CLEVELAND — It might take a keen eye to notice, but the Cleveland Indians have made a few subtle tweaks to their uniforms for the 2012 season. — The club's traditional home white uniform will feature the usual front script “Indians,” but with a two-layer red and navy blue applique.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer
Adam Berry / MLB.com:
Report: Chili Davis to be A's hitting coach — Former slugger coached this past season in Red Sox system — The A's have hired Chili Davis to be their new hitting coach, according to a report by Comcast SportsNet New England. — Davis, 52, served as the hitting coach for Boston's Triple …
Discussion:
Giants Win, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo! Sports and Halos Heaven
Nancy Dillon / NY Daily News:
Former NY Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra holds first sit-down interview since plea in grand theft auto case — Jail, rehab humble Dykstra — Former Mets Lenny Dykstra says he now looks at world from a cleaner, clearer perspective. — LOS ANGELES — The former Met known as “Nails” …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Kranepool Society, Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Halman's funeral set for Tuesday in Netherlands — SEATTLE — The funeral service for Mariners outfielder Greg Halman will be held Tuesday in Driehuis, about five miles north of his hometown of Haarlem in the Netherlands. — The family is also holding a public viewing on Sunday …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Associated Press
Peter Gammons / MLB.com:
Nathan signing puts Feliz in rightful place — Rangers have long planned for righty to pitch in rotation — This was always the plan for Neftali Feliz. Oh, Game 6 remains painful for Rangers fans, but not the kind of angst that has had John McNamara and Roger Clemens taking shots at one another for 25 years.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols will likely decline Cards' arbitration offer — Should All-Star sign elsewhere, St. Louis gets two Draft picks — ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals formally offered arbitration to Albert Pujols on Wednesday, ensuring that if the superstar is playing for another club in 2012, they'll get some recompense.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols sticking with Lozano as his agent
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Dan Connolly / Orioles Insider:
Klentak talks about leaving the Orioles — Matt Klentak, who spent the last four years as the Orioles' director of baseball operations, said today that leaving the club to become an assistant general manager with the Los Angeles Angels was just too good of a career move to ignore.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees, Garcia reach deal — Freddy Garcia has reached agreement with the Yankees on a one-year deal worth about $4 million, plus incentives. — Garcia went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA for the Yankees in 2011 after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal in the offseason.
