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Fox Sports:
Who's still in Fielder market, who's not — Albert Pujols will turn 32 next month. It's very possible that his best seasons are behind him. He just signed a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Angels. — Prince Fielder, 27, is entering his prime. He had the better 2011 regular season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Crasnick: “The Book” on Fielder — “The Book,” put together by the Scott Boras Corporation, details the free-agent slugger — In conjunction with Prince Fielder's free-agent debut, his representatives at the Scott Boras Corporation produced a 73-page binder celebrating his achievements in the game.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Deadspin, DRaysBay, Drunk Jays Fans, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Mark J. Miller / Yahoo! Sports:
Rangers focused on trade for pitcher, not signing Fielder
Rangers focused on trade for pitcher, not signing Fielder
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Lookout Landing and Red Sox Monster
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Kelly Shoppach agreement spells likely end for Jason Varitek with Red Sox — The Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million deal with catcher Kelly Shoppach. (AP) — The writing had been on the wall for some time. Whenever he was asked about Jason Varitek this offseason …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Alex Speier / Full Count:
Source: Red Sox expect to go over luxury tax threshold
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Red Sox bring back catcher Shoppach
Source: Red Sox bring back catcher Shoppach
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and The Heater Feed
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Kelly Shoppach
Red Sox Sign Kelly Shoppach
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB.com Hot Stove Blog, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Darvish bidding process is cloak-and-dagger affair — The Yu Darvish sweepstakes is turning into a spy novel. An international man of mystery. Exorbitant amounts of money. Suspense. Lies. Subterfuge. The only things missing are a shifty mole and a double cross.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, MLB Rumors, Baseball Time in Arlington and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jeff Jacobs / Hartford Courant:
The Agony Of Filling Out A Hall Of Fame Ballot — Does Jeff Bagwell belong in the Hall of Fame? (Courant file photo) — While leaving an empty box next to Jeff Bagwell's name ... Lots of folks have a bucket list, or at least that's the term they assign to it after the 2007 movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bluebird Banter
John Harper / NY Daily News:
MLB is banking on Mets woes and may jump to take control as Wilpons will soon feel the financial squeeze — Source says cash crisis on club may go beyond control of Bud & Co. — On the day after word was leaked of the Mets taking out yet another loan, here is what you heard Tuesday …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, baseballmusings.com, Mets Cetera, ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com and Bats
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Source: Indians, Jose Lopez in serious talks — The Indians, looking for a right-handed bat to help balance their predominantly left-handed lineup, have had serious discussions with free-agent infielder Jose Lopez, a major-league source told FOXSports.com. — Lopez has posted an OPS …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Wahoo's on First, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Former Yankees manager Lou Piniella set to return to Bombers as YES Network television analyst — Sources say Sweet Lou expected to also serve as spring training instructor — Former Yankees player and manager Lou Piniella is expected to rejoin the Bombers as a member of their YES Network broadcast team.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB.com and Bronx Baseball Daily
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals looking at Dobbs for bench role — WASHINGTON — In need of strengthening their bench, the Nationals have expressed interest in infielder Greg Dobbs, according to a baseball source. — The left-handed-hitting Dobbs, 33, is coming off one of his best seasons, hitting .275 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs for the Marlins.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies in the mix for free agent Beltran — DENVER — Two Major League sources with knowledge of the situation say the Rockies are trying to sign free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran. — A six-time All-Star, Beltran is coming off a 2011 in which he hit a combined .300 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs for the Giants and Mets.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Don Cooper rubbed Sox wrong way — Jake Peavy in particular — The relationship between Jake Peavy and pitching coach Don Cooper (above) disintegrated last season when the right-hander believed Cooper threw him under the bus in several interviews. Nam Y. Huh~AP
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Twins to add Josh Willingham — Veteran outfielder Josh Willingham has reached agreement on a multiyear contract with the Minnesota Twins pending completion of a physical exam, according to a league source. — Willingham, 32, is a career .262 hitter with 132 home runs for the Marlins, Nationals and Athletics.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Puckett's Pond, Let's Go Tribe, MLB Daily Dish and Around the Majors
The Knobler Blog:
Tigers, Red Sox among teams in on Gio Gonzalez — When the bidding window for Yu Darvish closes at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, one team will come away with the chance to sign one of the best remaining pitchers available on the winter shopping market. — The others can turn their attention back to Gio Gonzalez.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Rumors