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10:30 PM ET, December 19, 2011

Ballbug

 Top News: 
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 …
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Fox Sports:
Jays hope to score in Darvish bidding war  —  Albert Pujols is an Angel.  The marketing potential of a superstar and the team's new regional television rights deal with FOX are two of the biggest reasons why.  —  Now consider the power of a single national franchise, beamed coast …
Mark Zwolinski / Toronto Star:   Yu Darvish sweepstakes: Blue Jays no sure bet to win
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Filling in the blanks for MLB's neediest teams
Discussion: MLB Rumors and Cincinnati Reds
Fox Sports:
Source: Diamondbacks, Kubel reach deal  —  The Diamondbacks, continuing their impressive off-season, have reached agreement with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel on a two-year, $15 million contract, according to a major-league source.  —  The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes an option for 2014, the source said.
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Diamondbacks To Sign Jason Kubel  —  The Diamondbacks have signed outfielder Jason Kubel, tweets Tom Krasovic.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports confirms the agreement, which is for two years with an option.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the deal is worth $15MM.  Kubel is represented by Wasserman Media Group.
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue and Baseball Nation
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Kubel, D-backs reach two-year deal
Discussion: Baseball Nation
Fox Sports:
Nats working hard to land Gonzalez  —  The Nationals, continuing their quest to add a left-handed starting pitcher, are pushing hard to land the Athletics' Gio Gonzalez, according to major-league sources.  —  Gonzalez, 26, is perhaps the hottest pitcher available on the trade market …
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Gio Gonzalez to Mets unlikely  —  Although the Mets recently discussed the possibility of acquiring Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported Thursday), they are unlikely to pursue the pitcher, according to two major league officials familiar with the Mets' thinking.
Eric Schmoldt / Sports Radio Interviews:
BALCO founder Victor Conte: Ryan Braun is Dead in the Water  —  All eyes are still on Major League Baseball and National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun, who has tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.  Braun is appealing the test and we really haven't heard anything …
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Endy heading to Baltimore with one-year deal  —  Speedy free agent expected to be O's top reserve outfielder  —  BALTIMORE — The Orioles crossed an item off their offseason shopping list, bolstering their outfield depth by agreeing to terms with veteran Endy Chavez for one year, pending a physical.
Discussion: Camden Chat
RELATED:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Agree To Sign Endy Chavez
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Jocketty checking off items on to-do list  —  Reds GM expects to address bullpen before left field  —  CINCINNATI — Following the acquisition of pitcher Mat Latos from the Padres over the weekend, the Reds and general manager Walt Jocketty are far from through making moves.
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Why the Angels should trade Abreu  —  Even before the Angels signed Albert Pujols, Bobby Abreu looked like their odd man out.  —  Now, with Kendrys Morales seemingly on the verge of a comeback, the Angels should consider trading Abreu rather than paying him $9 million to be a part-time DH.
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
The Cooperstown case for Jeff Bagwell  —  It's December, so for me that means its Hall of Fame month.  Early next month, Cooperstown announces the results of the annual BBWAA election.  With that in mind, last month I wrote a piece for THT, “The Cooperstown case for Tim Raines.”
Jamie Frevele / The Mary Sue:
The Atlanta Braves Are in a Legal Dispute With Disney Pixar Over Brave For Obvious Reason  —  In one of the biggest cases of “pick your battles,” the owners of the Atlanta Braves baseball team are reportedly “in negotiations” with Disney Pixar over the title of their next big release, Brave.
Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
GMs eye trade route for starting pitching help  —  Gio, Jurrjens, Pineda among starters that could be on block  —  So you're a general manager, and you went into the offseason hoping to improve your rotation.  But C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle and Yu Darvish proved to be too pricey, and you're not thrilled with the remaining free agents.
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.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cards still interested in Beltran
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 …
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
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 More News: 
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Left hand healed, Tabata hits the cage
Discussion: HardballTalk
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Rep: Cespedes could gain residency this week
Discussion: HardballTalk
 Earlier Picks: 
Daily / Philly.com:
Pence ready to go after offseason surgery
Discussion: HardballTalk
 

 
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