Top News:
ESPN:
Red Sox hire Bobby Valentine — The Boston Red Sox announced Wednesday night that Bobby Valentine will be introduced as manager Thursday. — The team will host a news conference at 5:30 p.m. at Fenway Park to announce Valentine's hire. — The hiring comes a little over two months since …
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
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New York Post:
Red Sox get their lightning rod with Valentine
Discussion:
New York Times, joy of sox and WasWatching.com
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Valentine, Lucchino might squeeze Cherington
Discussion:
Fox Sports and Baseball Prospectus
Tim Kurkjian / MLB:
Kurkjian: Red Sox have a gem in Valentine
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, THE BOOK, Over the Monster, joy of sox, The Soxaholix, Full Count and ESPN
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
AP source: Red Sox choose Valentine as manager
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Sliding Into Home
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.
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Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs sign OF David DeJesus — The Cubs and outfielder David DeJesus have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with a club option for the 2014 campaign, the team announced on Wednesday. DeJesus is expected to make $4.25 million in the first two seasons with the option year worth $6.5 million, or a $1.5 million buyout.
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:
Batter's Box Interactive …, Bluebird Banter and Yahoo! Sports
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Slimmer Teixeira seeks improvement vs. righties — NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira says that he is already about 10 pounds lighter thanks to diet and exercise, but what the Yankees first baseman really wants to do is bulk up his batting average from the left side.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and HardballTalk
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi likes Yankees current pitching rotation, expects to start with CC Sabathia …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
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 Goessling Game, THE BOOK and Bucs Dugout
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
13 Teams Eligible For First Competitive Balance Lottery
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Pinstripe Alley and Bucs Dugout
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Moreland undergoes surgery on right wrist — First baseman expected to be ready for start of regular season — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are looking at the possibility of first baseman Mitch Moreland not being ready for Spring Training after he underwent surgery on his right wrist on Wednesday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers hire Greg Maddux as special assistant
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram, HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
Fox Sports:
Rockies, Angels swap catchers — The Colorado Rockies completed two moves involving catchers Wednesday night, reaching an agreement with free-agent Ramon Hernandez while dealing Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Tyler Chatwood. — Hernandez will replace Iannetta …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies trade Chris Iannetta to Angels; near signing Ramon Hernandez
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Lookout Landing
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Arencibia, Lawrie named to Topps Rookie team — TORONTO — J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie were named to the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team on Wednesday morning. — Arencibia hit .219 with 78 RBIs while setting a Blue Jays franchise record for home runs by a catcher with 23.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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, Call to the Pen, McCovey Chronicles and Full Count
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Baseball America honors Melvin — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Just got my new issue of Baseball America in the mail today and it's their annual awards double-issue. In it, they salute Brewers general manager Doug Melvin as their 2011 major league executive of the year.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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
