Top News:
ESPN:
Angels Land Pujols — DALLAS — The Los Angeles Angels have landed the two biggest prizes of the offseason. — First, Albert Pujols agreed to a 10-year deal for at least $250 million with the team, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Thursday.
Discussion:
ESPN, Batter's Box Interactive …, baseballmusings.com, New York Magazine and ESPN.com
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Marlins offered Albert Pujols $275 million — DALLAS — While the Los Angeles Angels' signing of free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year contract for around $255 million stunned the baseball world, there was a development that was even more remarkable. — Pujols actually left money on the table.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, MLB Daily Dish, Fish Tank blog, MLB Rumors and Pinstripe Alley
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Angels land both Pujols and Wilson — Iconic slugger departs St. Louis; lefty goes home to West Coast — DALLAS — The Angels' huge Winter Meetings splash didn't stop with Thursday's stunning agreement with Albert Pujols. They also came to terms on a deal with free-agent left-hander C.J. Wilson.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …, LA Times Sports Blog, Pinstripe Alley and Deadspin
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Angels Sign C.J. Wilson — Lefty C.J. Wilson will join Albert Pujols in Los Angeles, as the Angels continue a surprising free agent spending spree. The Halos completed a deal with Wilson today, learned Joel Sherman of the New York Post. It's a five-year, $77.5MM contract …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, 6-4-2, Eye on Baseball, Lone Star Ball and Pinstripe Alley
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Angels Sign Albert Pujols — The Angels are the bridesmaid no more. Albert Pujols signed a ten-year deal with the Angels, reports Yahoo's Tim Brown. He receives a full no-trade clause. Pujols decided this morning, writes Brown. The Angels have since announced the monumental signing, which ESPN's Buster Olney says is for $254MM.
Discussion:
New York Times, Baseball Nation and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: Albert Pujols talks ongoing
Discussion:
ESPN, Halos Heaven, Over the Monster, Athletics Nation, Baseball Nation, River Avenue Blues and Phillies Nation
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Phillies' deal for Howard not all that bad in light of Pujols and Fielder situations
Discussion:
Crashburn Alley
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Pujols agrees to terms with Angels on landmark deal
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Deadspin
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
2011 Rule 5 Draft Results — Here are the results of the 2011 Rule 5 draft. — Team — Player, Pos. — Old Team — 1. Astros — Rhiner Cruz, rhp — Mets — A hard-throwing righthander who has impressed in winter ball (14 strikeouts in 11 innings with reports that he's touching the high 90s).
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Where Have You Gone …
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
Luhnow Hire Trumps Rule 5 Buzz — DALLAS—The Winter Meetings wrap up Thursday with the Rule 5 draft, and the status of the first pick of the draft seemed to be coming into focus as Wednesday night crept into Thursday morning. — Most of the buzz in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole centered on Jiwan James …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and HardballTalk
Globe and Mail:
Pitcher Aaron Harang agreed Thursday to a $12 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, filling out their projected starting rotation for next season. — The 33-year-old right-hander was 14-7 with a career-low 3.64 ERA in 28 starts for his hometown San Diego Padres last season.
RELATED:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Blue Jays enter the Gio Gonzalez sweepstakes — Dallas — Toronto became the latest team to join the Gio Gonzalez fray at baseball's winter meetings, and the Blue Jays just might be a fine match for the A's All-Star left-hander. — The Blue Jays and A's are frequent trade partners …
Discussion:
NESN.com and Batter's Box Interactive …
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Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Kelly Johnson to accept Jays arbitration offer
Discussion:
Globe and Mail and Batter's Box Interactive …
Fox Sports:
Source: Darvish to be posted Thursday — A day long anticipated by major league teams finally has arrived. — Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish will be posted on Thursday, taking the first step toward pitching in the majors next season, according to a source familiar with his plans.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Yu Darvish To Be Posted Thursday
Discussion:
Washington Post, Boston Globe, Oakland Athletics, Rangers Blog, NPB Tracker, Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers can hold early sale of TV rights, judge rules [UPDATED] — The Dodgers can sell their television rights along with the team, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross ruled Thursday. — Fox Sports now has until Jan. 14 to negotiate a new television contract with the Dodgers …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation and baseballmusings.com
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Brewers pick Gonzalez over Yuni for shortstop — The Brewers filled the most glaring hole on their roster before boarding a flight home from the Winter Meetings on Thursday when they agreed to terms with shortstop Alex Gonzalez on a one-year contract that reportedly includes a vesting option for 2013.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Brew Crew Ball
Andrew Blankstein / Los Angeles Times:
Dodger James Loney arrested after collision on 101 in his Maserati — Dodger James Loney was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after his Maserati allegedly sideswiped several cars on the 101 Freeway before it came to a halt in the fast lane with the infielder passed out inside, authorities said Thursday.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Dodgers Blog and True Blue LA
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies in mix for free agent OF Michael Cuddyer — DALLAS — The Rockies' willingness to consider a three-year deal for Michael Cuddyer has made them a serious suitor for the free-agent outfielder. — Cuddyer is already sitting on a reported three-year, $25-million offer from the Twins, his existing club.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Twinkie Town and MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Jesse Carlson — The Red Sox signed lefty reliever Jesse Carlson to a split contract with a spring training invite, his brother told Robert Mayer of the local online newspaper the Berlin Patch in a story published yesterday. Carlson, 30, had rotator cuff surgery in May and was removed …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
