Top News:
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Padres swap Latos to Reds in five-player deal — San Diego lands Volquez, Alonso and other top prospects — The Reds and Padres announced a five-player deal Saturday, as Cincinnati sent right-hander Edinson Volquez and three of its top 10 prospects to the Padres for right-hander Mat Latos.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Beyond the Box Score, Athletics Nation, Red Reporter, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo! Sports, Reds Country and Mark My Word
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Reds Acquire Latos For Alonso, Grandal, Volquez — The Reds wanted to boost their rotation this winter and the club wasn't afraid to part with a great deal of talent in order to get their man in Mat Latos. The Reds acquired Latos from the Padres this afternoon for Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, Yasmani Grandal, and Brad Boxberger.
Fox Sports:
Critics of Reds' deal should look again — I love how the Mat Latos trade was barely even official before certain experts started proclaiming that the Reds overpaid. — Guess what? — To land a potential No. 1 starter - one who is 24 years old, a year away from arbitration and four years away …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Red Reporter, Yahoo! Sports, Minor League Ball and Cincinnati Reds
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Padres trade Mat Latos to Reds
Discussion:
Associated Press, ESPN and High Heat Stats
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Reds Finally Get Their Ace in Mat Latos
Discussion:
MLB.com, Amazin' Avenue, U.S.S. Mariner and Red Reporter
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees ‘not getting’ Japanese pitching star Yu Darvish — NEW YORK — If Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish indeed throws his first major league pitch next season, it will not be in a Yankees uniform. — The Yankees are “not getting him,” a person with knowledge of the situation said today …
Discussion:
NoMaas.org, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, It's About The Money and Bronx Baseball Daily
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Franz Lidz / Sports Illustrated:
Highest Darvish bid beats Dice-K's, sets record for posting process … Contrary to published reports, the top sealed bid submitted for star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish on Wednesday was the highest in the history of the posting process, exceeding the record $51.1 million fee that the Boston Red Sox paid …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, FenwayNation, River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Baseball Nation
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Revamped AL teams major concern for Sox — With the likelihood the expanded playoff format won't go into effect until 2013, the Red Sox must be careful not to go a third year without a postseason berth. — Not only must they worry about the Yankees and Rays in their division, there are the rising Blue Jays as well.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MLB Rumors and Baseball Nation
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Sources: Red Sox called on Kansas City closer Joakim Soria — The Red Sox have expressed some interest in Royals closer Joakim Soria. (AP) — According to multiple sources, the Red Sox had discussions with the Royals about the possibility of dealing for Kansas City closer Joakim Soria.
Discussion:
joy of sox, FenwayNation, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Appear To Have Won Rights To Aoki — Sunday: The Brewers have not yet officially been awarded the negotiating rights to Aoki but still appear to be in good shape, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Until the posting process officially concludes …
Discussion:
JSOnline, Al's Ramblings, Baseball Nation, Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Agree To Sign Endy Chavez — The Orioles and Endy Chavez have agreed to a one-year, $1.5MM major league deal. The deal will also give the outfielder the chance to earn another $500K through performance bonuses. — The Mets showed interest in Chavez earlier this offseason …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MetsBlog.com and Camden Chat
Barry Jackson / MiamiHerald.com:
Miami Marlins still waiting for Ramirez to accept move to third — Conversations have remained private between Miami and Hanley Ramirez, who has not publicly said he is willing to play third. — BJACKSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM — Marlins executive Larry Beinfest made it clear Friday that he wants to add another starting pitcher.
Discussion:
FenwayNation, Pinstripe Alley and HardballTalk
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Sources: Cubs pursuing Prince Fielder — The Chicago Cubs will continue to be involved in the Prince Fielder free-agent bidding, according to two major league sources with knowledge of the negotiations. — Cubs manager Dale Sveum said on Friday that the Cubs' interest in Fielder was mostly …
Discussion:
VIN SCULLY IS MY HOMEBOY, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, MLB Rumors and Fox Sports
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Exclusive First Look: Yoenis Cespedes Encore — Last month, the Yoenis Cespedes video took the world by storm, so imagine my excitement when Edgar Mercedes, the producer of the video and president of the Born To Play Academy in the Dominican Republic, e-mailed me this week to let me know that the sequel …
