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5:40 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:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Brewers To Sign Aramis Ramirez  —  Aramis Ramirez will sign a three-year contract with the Brewers, reports Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports expects the contract to be in the $34-37MM range and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports believes to about $36MM.
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
Tom Singer / MLB.com:   D-backs bring back Ransom on Minors deal
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
Chuck Schilken / LA Times Sports Blog:
Bill Plaschke: Ryan Braun needs to follow his own advice  —  In the winter of 2009, when news leaked that the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez had tested positive for a performance enhancing drug, he was faced with a decision.  —  Fight it or admit it?  —  Before Rodriguez made his choice …
RELATED:
Teri Thompson / NY Daily News:
Ryan Braun's initial PED test results were ‘insanely high,’ NL MVP's lawyer insists client did not take PEDs
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Manny Ramirez seeks another chance  —  MIAMI — Manny Ramirez acknowledged that he has made many mistakes in his life and he seeks a new chance to show that he has changed.  —  In an exclusive interview with ESPN Deportes, Ramirez said it was a mistake to have used banned performance-enhancing substances …
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
The Cooperstown case for Tim Raines  —  It's that time of the year again: Hall of Fame voting season.  This month, the decade-long members of the BBWAA fill out their ballots for who belongs in Cooperstown.  —  There are many candidates on this year's ballot, and many would make perfectly fine Hall of Famers.
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
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 …
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: MetsBlog.com and ESPN
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Inbox: Where will right-handed pop come from?  —  Beat reporter Jordan Bastian answers questions from fans … Free-agent outfielder Josh Willingham has proven power.  What are the odds of the Tribe grabbing him and giving left fielder Michael Brantley a share of time at first base?
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox stick with approach  —  Little tweaks often can go a long way  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  One of these days, the Red Sox [team stats] will make a trade, sign a free agent and fill out their coaching staff.  —  In the meantime, all signs point toward …
Discussion: FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Taxing issue for Red Sox in offseason
 
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 More News: 
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards close to completing two-year deal with Schumaker
Discussion: MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Gwynn awaits fate as tender deadline nears
Discussion: Dodgers Blog
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets weighing decision on Paulino
Discussion: Mets Cetera and Amazin' Avenue
 Earlier Picks: 
Charley Walters / TwinCities.com:
Twins star Joe Mauer engaged to fellow Cretin-Derham Hall grad Maddie Bisanz
Dallas Morning News:
Jon Daniels: ‘Very realistic’ that C.J. Wilson would've returned had Rangers matched Angels' offer
 

 
From WeSmirch:

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

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

Pat Saperstein / Variety:
Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ Director and ‘Private Benjamin’ Co-Writer, Dies at 83

 
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