Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox select Bobby Valentine as manager — Bobby Valentine is the choice of the Red Sox, emerging from a long and convoluted search to become the 45th manager in franchise history. — The 61-year-old was offered the job by general manager Ben Cherington according to Major League sources …
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New York Post:
Red Sox get their lightning rod with Valentine — The greatest soap opera in baseball just got a hero — or a villain. — Bobby Valentine, who makes lifelong friends and enduring enemies in near-equal numbers, has reached an agreement to become the Red Sox manager, completing a process …
Discussion:
New York Times, joy of sox and WasWatching.com
Fox Sports:
Reports: Red Sox hire Bobby Valentine — Nearly two months after parting with Terry Francona, the Red Sox finally have settled on a manager. — Bobby Valentine is the team's choice, according to several reports. — Valentine, the clear favorite of ownership, beat out the other finalist, Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont.
MLB.com:
Tickets for Select 2012 Red Sox Home Games and Popular “Sox Pax” go on Sale Saturday, Dec. 10 — Online Registration Begins Today for Chance to Attend 9th Annual “Christmas at Fenway” Presented by Stop and Shop — BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today announced that select tickets …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan … and Full Count
Tim Kurkjian / MLB:
Kurkjian: Red Sox have a gem in Valentine
Discussion:
joy of sox and The Soxaholix
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox To Hire Bobby Valentine
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Call to the Pen, MetsBlog.com, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and Deadspin
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
AP source: Red Sox choose Valentine as manager
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Valentine gets Red Sox job
Discussion:
Over the Monster, WCVB-TV, The Big Lead and Fire Brand of the …
Evan Hilbert / SI Tracking Blog:
Report: Boston Red Sox And Bobby Valentine Reach Agreement
Discussion:
Full Count and NESN.com
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Competitive Balance Lottery to shake up Draft — Small-market, low-revenue teams to get chance at extra picks — There's enough information to digest from the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to make Thanksgiving dinner seem like an appetizer. Getting a grasp on how the First-Year Player Draft …
Discussion:
THE BOOK and Bucs Dugout
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
13 Teams Eligible For First Competitive Balance Lottery — The new collective bargaining agreement calls for a competitive balance draft pick lottery beginning in 2013, and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has details. 13 teams will be eligible for the first lottery based on their market size and revenue …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
More Draft Details From The CBA
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Pirates Prospects and River Avenue Blues
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Reach Agreement With David DeJesus — The Cubs reached an agreement with outfielder David DeJesus, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. It's a two-year deal, tweets MLB.com's Jane Lee. The Cubs confirmed the deal on Twitter, noting the inclusion of a club option for 2014.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Yahoo! Sports, Tedquarters, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, VFTB and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Associated Press:
DeJesus, Cubs reach two-year deal … CHICAGO (AP) — Outfielder David DeJesus and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract. — The deal announced Wednesday includes a 2014 club option.. — A.284 hitter in nine years with Kansas City and Oakland, DeJesus batted just .240 in his lone season with the Athletics.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Part of dynasty, Bernie leads ballot newcomers — Center fielder tallied four rings, displayed grace over 16 seasons … Bernie Williams is already in the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame. That much was decided in September. As for that other Hall, you know, the one in the brick building …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Walker up for enshrinement for second time — Expos, Rockies, Cards standout among top outfielders of his era … Not many Major Leaguers can claim status as a national baseball icon, a cornerstone for two franchises and a key veteran presence for a third, but Larry Walker has all that on his resume and more.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards seek clarity in Pujols talks — While the market for free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols continued to develop Tuesday with news of the Chicago Cubs' interest, the Cardinals are hoping that their chance of re-signing the three-time MVP gains clarity in the next couple of weeks so they can move forward or move on.
Discussion:
FOXSportsMidwest.com, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Fox Sports
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Cubs call Albert Pujols' reps
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and baseballmusings.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Trying To Trade Affeldt Or Ramon Ramirez — The Giants have a ton of money tied up in the bullpen right now, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, so they're trying to move Jeremy Affeldt or Ramon Ramirez. Many teams seek bullpen help, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers …
Discussion:
San Francisco Chronicle, McCovey Chronicles and Full Count
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi likes Yankees current pitching rotation, expects to start with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes — Skipper feels ‘pretty good’ about current five — Matt Garza is appealing to Yankees but Joe Girardi sounds as if he'd be content if Bombers didn't add rotation help this winter.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Chris Creamer / SportsLogos.Net Blog:
Giants to Bring Back 80s Classic Uniform in 2012 — According to a reliable source, SportsLogos.Net has learned that the San Francisco Giants will be bringing back a slightly updated version of their 1980′s road jersey as a road alternate jersey for the 2012 season.
Discussion:
Extra Baggs and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Sources: Dodgers, Adam Kennedy close — The Los Angeles Dodgers are close to an agreement with free-agent infielder Adam Kennedy, according to multiple sources. Length and terms of the deal weren't immediately available. — Kennedy, who can play first, second and third …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, True Blue LA, MLB Daily Dish, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and 6-4-2
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Dodgers, Adam Kennedy Near Deal
Discussion:
Fox Sports, HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
