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:
Hardball Times, JSOnline, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Bleed Cubbie Blue and NESN.com
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Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Mariners eyeing free-agent dance partners — Hot Stove expected to fire up at Winter Meetings — SEATTLE — When Jack Zduriencik and the Mariners brass head to Dallas next week for the Winter Meetings, they'll be looking for ways to improve an offense that ranked last in the Major Leagues in most categories last season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, JSOnline, HardballTalk and MLB.com Hot Stove Blog
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Catricala, Walker top Mariners' honor roll — Prospects named Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year — SEATTLE — Vinnie Catricala, a 23-year-old third baseman/outfielder, has been named the Mariners' Minor League Player of the Year after batting .349 with 25 home runs and 106 RBIs in Class A and Double-A.
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” …
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Fox Sports:
Crane can hit homer with new hires — If the Astros hire Rays GM Andrew Friedman, then more power to them. But new owner Jim Crane shouldn't count on it, given Friedman's loyalty to Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and club president Matt Silverman. — No, Crane should count on conducting …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Call to the Pen and HardballTalk
Evan Grant / Rangers Blog:
Source: Astros receive permission to speak with Thad Levine — The Houston Astros now have two candidates for their general manager's job. — A day after receiving permission to speak with Tampa Bay's Andrew Friedman, a Houston native, about the GM's job, Astros officials contacted …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and baseballmusings.com
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Marmol, Buehrle, Astros
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, South Side Sox, Call to the Pen and HardballTalk
Ron Chimelis / Union-News:
Hiring the Red Sox manager will be (or should be) more than just solving a metric equation — People sometimes ask my opinion of sabermetrics. — I tell them I accept the concept. I also hate it. — The use of advanced statistical data, better known as sabermetrics, is very much in Red Sox news these days.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Valentine or Lamont: Red Sox face style decision
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
David Waldstein / Bats:
Waiting on Word From Boston, Valentine Visits Japan
Discussion:
ESPN, NESN.com, Over the Monster, Orioles Insider, FenwayNation and Boston Globe
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Garza to the Red Sox makes sense
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, BoSox Injection, MLB Daily Dish, Full Count, FenwayNation and Yankees Fans Unite
Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:
‘Serious interest’ in Red Sox DH David Ortiz from other teams
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish, Boston Herald, HardballTalk, Fenway West and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Royals To Sign Jonathan Broxton — The Royals announced that they have agreed to sign Jonathan Broxton to a one-year deal, pending a physical. The deal is worth $4MM and includes $1MM in incentives based on games pitched for the 27-year-old right-hander, who will be Kansas City's setup man in 2012.
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Broxton agrees to contract with Royals — Former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton has reached agreement on a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — The deal is contingent on Broxton passing a physical exam Wednesday, the source said.
Bob Elliott / Toronto Sun:
SPORTS BASEBALL — Jays target closer Bell — The Toronto Blue Jays have targeted closer Heath Bell as a possible off-season signing. (GETTY IMAGES) — The U.S. Thanksgiving sales have concluded. — Now, it's time for executives to move into high gear leading into next month's baseball's winter meetings in Dallas.
Discussion:
Phuture Phillies
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com Hot Stove Blog:
Mets, Cards in the running for Dotel — The Mets are strong players for right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. Dotel, who celebrated his 38th birthday last week, posted a 2.61 ERA for the Cardinals in October after compiling a 3.28 ERA …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, mlbbuzz, MLB Rumors and Bless You Boys
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
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Giants Extend Brian Sabean, Bruce Bochy — The Giants announced that they extended the contracts of GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy through 2013. The deals for Sabean and Bochy include team options for 2014. … Every MLB team has changed GMs at least once since the Giants promoted Sabean in 1996.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects, MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees' Curtis Granderson says new HGH test important to Major League Baseball — Yankees center fielder wants to swat doubt — Curtis Granderson may have finished fourth in MVP voting but he's tops with city kids on Monday as he shows up at PS 19 in Bronx to celebrate renovation …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Brewers name Johnny Narron hitting coach — The Brewers have found a hitting coach to replace the departed Dale Sveum, and it's a familiar name. — Johnny Narron, a former Brewers Minor League coach and manager and the older brother of bench coach Jerry Narron, will fill the post vacated …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Postcards From Elysian Fields
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