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9:30 PM ET, December 12, 2011

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Aramis Ramirez to Brewers  —  Former Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez will sign a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the situation.  —  Ramirez played the last eight-plus seasons with the Cubs.
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers, Pirates Swap Veras For McGehee  —  The Brewers acquired right-handed reliever Jose Veras from the Pirates for infielder Casey McGehee, the teams announced.  The Brewers agreed to terms with Aramis Ramirez today, which lessens their need for corner infielders.
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Brewers To Sign Aramis Ramirez  —  7:02pm: The deal includes a mutual option for 2015, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com (on Twitter).  —  1:45pm: Aramis Ramirez will sign a three-year contract with the Brewers, reports Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.
New York Times:
Mets, Struggling for Cash, Receive $40 Million Bank Loan  —  The owners of the Mets, needing cash and unable to turn to Major League Baseball for more financial help, received a $40 million loan from a major bank in the past six weeks.  —  The team described the arrangement as a “bridge loan …
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Report: Mets received $40M bank loan  —  The financially strapped owners of the New York Mets obtained a $40 million “bridge loan” from Bank of America in recent weeks to continue operations until minority shares of the team can be sold, The New York Times reported.
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins catcher John Buck helps rescue two women from overturned car  —  Think the Marlins front office had an eventful week last week in Dallas?  Consider Marlins catcher John Buck's week.  —  He started the week by bagging a trophy-class deer (209 points on the Boone & Crockett scale) on a hunting trip in south Texas.
Discussion: NESN.com and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:   John Buck helps rescue two people after Florida car accident
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Ben Francisco  —  The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Ben Francisco from the Phillies for minor league lefty Frank Gailey, announced the team.  The Jays also designated reliever Jesse Chavez for assignment.  —  Francisco, 30, hit .244/.340/.364 in 293 plate appearances for the Phillies this year.
RELATED:
Joey Nowak / MLB.com:
Blue Jays trade with Phillies for Francisco
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Non-Tender Candidates  —  I initially published my non-tender candidates list on November 14th, and since then many of the 54 players I mentioned have been removed from 40-man rosters or traded.  Below is my revised list in advance of tonight's 11pm central time deadline.
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Non-Tender Tracker  —  On average, each MLB team currently …
Discussion: DRaysBay and El Lefty Malo
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Badenhop acquired from Marlins  —  The Rays added another potential piece to their bullpen, acquiring RHP Burke Badenhop from the Marlins for minor-league C Jake Jefferies.  —  Badenhop, 28, spent parts of the last four seasons in the majors, compiling a 13-15, 4.34 record.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
D'Backs To Sign Takashi Saito  —  The Diamondbacks have agreed to sign right-handed reliever Takashi Saito, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).  The D'Backs were known to be targeting the CAA client, who drew interest from at least six teams this offseason.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Mets Claim Jeremy Hefner; Sign May, Olson  —  The Mets claimed righty Jeremy Hefner off waivers from the Pirates, reports ESPN New York's Adam Rubin.  They also signed catcher Lucas May and lefty Garrett Olson to minor league deals.  —  Hefner, 25, was claimed by the Pirates from the Padres …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports, MetsBlog.com and ESPN
Associated Press:
Cards, Furcal agree on 2-year, $14 million deal  —  ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals and shortstop Rafael Furcal have agreed to a $14 million, two-year contract, keeping the switch-hitter with the World Series champions after they picked him up at the July trade deadline.  —  Furcal
Discussion: ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Wife of Albert Pujols tells radio show: “the city of St. Louis has absolutely been deceived”  —  “I understand you're talking to us, then one TV station, and that's about it,” is how Sandi Brown, morning show host at 99.1 Joy FM in St. Louis, opened her conversation Monday with Deidre Pujols …
 
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 More News: 
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Zack Greinke Left CAA, Has No Agent
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Angels sign Williams to one-year contract
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards close to completing two-year deal with Schumaker
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Inbox: Where will right-handed pop come from?
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Gwynn awaits fate as tender deadline nears
Discussion: Dodgers Blog
Chuck Schilken / LA Times Sports Blog:
Bill Plaschke: Ryan Braun needs to follow his own advice
Discussion: JSOnline and SI Tracking Blog
 Earlier Picks: 
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets weighing decision on Paulino
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue and Mets Cetera
Charley Walters / TwinCities.com:
Twins star Joe Mauer engaged to fellow Cretin-Derham Hall grad Maddie Bisanz
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox stick with approach
Discussion: FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
Dallas Morning News:
Jon Daniels: ‘Very realistic’ that C.J. Wilson would've returned had Rangers matched Angels' offer
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Manny Ramirez seeks another chance
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
The Cooperstown case for Tim Raines
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
 

 
From WeSmirch:

CBS News:
Model Dayle Haddon dies in suspected carbon monoxide leak at Pennsylvania home of Hallmark star Marc Blucas

CBS News:
Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports broadcasting legend, dies at 78

Alison Boshoff / Daily Mail:
Justin Baldoni's explosive fightback against Blake Lively revealed: Claims her team smeared HIM, ‘weaponised’ …

 
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