Top News:
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cubs pursuing Pujols, Fielder — The Cubs are pursuing both Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, and not simply because the free-agent first basemen are difference-makers. — No, the Cubs also are acknowledging two emerging realities - a dwindling number of sluggers available …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Fox Sports:
Nats show interest in Fielder, others — All that talk about the Nationals not wanting free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder? — Don't believe it. — The Nationals are showing serious interest in Fielder and view Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes as a potential Plan B, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and JSOnline
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Marrero injury has Nats seeking first baseman — Backup tears hamstring but says he won't miss 2012 season — WASHINGTON — Are the Nationals in need of a first baseman? The answer is yes, after it was learned that first baseman Chris Marrero tore his left hamstring while playing …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Richard Justice / Ultimate Astros:
Astros receive permission to interview Rays GM Friedman — The Astros have received permission to interview Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman, according to officials with knowledge of the organization's thinking. — Although the club has asked to interview “a handful” …
Discussion:
The Heater Feed, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Boston Globe and Climbing Tal's Hill
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Marmol, Buehrle, Astros
Your Morning Phil: Marmol, Buehrle, Astros
Discussion:
Call to the Pen and HardballTalk
Lynn Henning / Detroit News for Monday …:
Tigers' sights are on Mark Buehrle, but they're not alone
Tigers' sights are on Mark Buehrle, but they're not alone
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Motor City Bengals, Bless You Boys, HardballTalk and The Goessling Game
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Valentine or Lamont: Red Sox face style decision — What Ben Cherington and the Boston Red Sox brass must decide - and presumably they will in the coming hours - is if the big theater that comes with the big personality is worth hiring Bobby Valentine over the more staid and predictable Gene Lamont.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and MLB Rumors
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Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Brewers name Johnny Narron hitting coach
Brewers name Johnny Narron hitting coach
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Postcards From Elysian Fields
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB Releases Info on 2011 Postseason Shares — A full Postseason share for the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals totaled $323,169.98, while a full share for the American League Champion Texas Rangers amounted to $251,515.76, Major League Baseball announced today.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
MLB announces Cardinals' playoff share award — ST. LOUIS • Major League Baseball announced this afternoon that the revenue generated by the sport's postseason created a pool of more than $57 million, and that each St. Louis Cardinal scheduled to receive a full playoff share will get a check for $323,169.98.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Dan Connolly / Orioles Insider:
Orioles' top affiliate will have a new manager in 2012 — The Orioles' top affiliate will have a new manager in 2012. Ron Johnson, a long-time minor-league skipper who spent the past two seasons as first base coach for the Boston Red Sox, is expected to take over as the manager of the Norfolk Tides, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NESN.com and Full Count
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David Waldstein / Bats:
Waiting on Word From Boston, Valentine Visits Japan
Waiting on Word From Boston, Valentine Visits Japan
Discussion:
ESPN, Over the Monster, FenwayNation and Boston Globe
Dejan Kovacevic / Dejan Kovacevic's Blog:
Source: Pirates aren't trading McCutchen — The Pirates have not entertained any trade offers for All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, a high-ranking team source said tonight, and have no intention of doing so. — An ESPN report earlier today said the team would listen to offers for McCutchen this offseason.
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects and Raise the Jolly Roger
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Pirates May Consider Offers For Andrew McCutchen
Pirates May Consider Offers For Andrew McCutchen
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects, MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Unhappy with Ronny Paulino, NY Mets looking for new backup catcher — Mets looking to replace backup backstop on bench and behind plate — Mets manager Terry Collins and catcher Ronny Paulino are on same side in this discussion, but do not always see eye-to-eye , and that could be one reason …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
Talkin' Cooperstown on Clubhouse Confidential — It gives me great pleasure to announce that I'll be debuting on MLB Network's Clubhouse Confidential on Tuesday at 5:30 PM Eastern. For the uninitiated, Clubhouse Confidential is a cutting-edge attempt to put advanced statistics in the television spotlight …
Discussion:
MLB.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Garza to the Red Sox makes sense — ESPN's Buster Olney reported on Twitter today that the Cubs are open to trading Matt Garza. — Here's a crazy idea that just might work: send a few prospects to the Cubs for Garza as compensation for Theo Epstein. — Garza alone is way too much compensation …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, BoSox Injection, MLB Daily Dish, Full Count, FenwayNation and Yankees Fans Unite
Bill Brink / plus.sites.post-gazette.com:
Contact Us — Registration … The Pirates have shown preliminary interest in right-hander Aaron Cook, according to a source. — They are one of about a half-dozen teams to check in on the free agent. — The teams' interest in Cook is in the beginning stages of the process.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Zachary Levine / Ultimate Astros:
Tal Smith disappointed with manner of firing, wants to stay in baseball — While not much a believer in titles, deposed Astros president of baseball operations Tal Smith saw a pretty good sign that change was barreling toward his desk when Jim Crane named George Postolos the president and CEO of his would-be ownership group.
Discussion:
Climbing Tal's Hill and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Wade, Smith disappointed to be leaving Astros