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:
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.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Padres trade Mat Latos to Reds — The San Diego Padres have traded pitcher Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger, infielder Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal, the two teams announced Saturday afternoon. — Cincinnati wanted a front-of-the-rotation starter heading into free agency.
Discussion:
ESPN and High Heat Stats
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:
Yahoo! Sports, Minor League Ball and Cincinnati Reds
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Reds Finally Get Their Ace in Mat Latos
Discussion:
Red Reporter and U.S.S. Mariner
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Crew reportedly wins negotiating rights for Aoki — The Brewers reportedly submitted a winning $2.5 million bid to negotiate with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, a three-time Central League batting champion with the Yakult Swallows. — According to a tweet by Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun …
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Win Rights To Norichika Aoki — Thet Yakult Swallows have announced that the Brewers won the negotiating rights to Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, reports Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun (on Twitter). We heard that Yakult accepted the $2.5MM bid yesterday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Al's Ramblings and Mike Silva's …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Source: Phils, Jimmy Rollins reach deal — The Philadelphia Phillies have reached agreement with shortstop Jimmy Rollins on a three-year, $33-million contract, according to a baseball source. — Rollins — The contract also contains a vesting option for a fourth year worth $11 million, the source said.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and Baseball Nation
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 …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Miami Marlins, The LoHud Yankees Blog and River Avenue Blues
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:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats out on Darvish, likely to stick with rotation
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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:
HardballTalk and Pinstripe Alley
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cards still interested in Beltran — The Cardinals did extensive background work on free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran last week and maintain strong interest in him, according to major league sources. — Other teams remain in the mix, however, and Beltran is weighing a variety …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
GM Colletti restructures Dodgers' front office — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti announced on Saturday a restructuring of his inner circle, with Vance Lovelace and Rick Ragazzo emerging with new titles and greater influence in Major League player evaluation.
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs talking to Paul Maholm — Having decided the bidding was too rich for top left-handed free agents Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson, the Cubs and agent Bo McKinnis have been negotiating the parameters of a deal that would bring left-handed starter Paul Maholm to Chicago next season, a major league source indicated.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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