Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals sign All-Star Beltran — ST. LOUIS • All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran finalized a two-year deal with the Cardinals on Thursday evening, a source familiar with the negotiations confirmed to the Post-Dispatch. — The switch-hitting outfielder brings some desired depth …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Viva El Birdos, NESN.com and Cincinnati Reds
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Agree To Two-Year Deal With Carlos Beltran — The Cardinals have addressed the Albert Pujols-sized void in their lineup by agreeing to terms with free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran. The contract is a two-year, $26MM deal that includes a full no-trade clause and will be finalized once Beltran passes a physical.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Amazin' Avenue and Getting Blanked
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Would Rays and Beltran be a good match? — UPDATE, 3:04: The Rays reportedly are out of the running for Beltran, as both Scott Miller of CBS Sports and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports just reported that the field has been narrowed to the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Indians.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' talks with Beltran intensify — ST. LOUIS • The Cardinals intensified their talks with the agent for switch-hitting outfielder Carlos Beltran late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Beltran has been a target of the team since Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Drunk Jays Fans
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
A's Talking Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey — 3:02pm: Rival executives say the Nationals have the best chance at obtaining Gonzalez and some believe Danny Espinosa or Ian Desmond could be in play, according to Heyman. — 2:44pm: The Red Sox are trying to get Gonzalez and Bailey in a “monster deal,” tweets Rosenthal.
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals To Acquire Gio Gonzalez — The Athletics will trade Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals in a deal that further depletes Oakland's pitching staff and adds to Washington's potentially dominant rotation. The deal sends Gonzalez and minor league right-hander Robert Gilliam to Washington …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, MetsBlog.com, Angels blog and Federal Baseball
ESPN.com:
Source: Nationals get Gio Gonzalez — Oakland Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez, highly coveted by a number of teams, was dealt to the Washington Nationals Thursday for four prospects, a team source told ESPN Insider Keith Law. — The Athletics will receive right-hander Brad Peacock …
Discussion:
MLB.com, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports and Batter's Box Interactive …
Associated Press:
Yanks, Red Sox hit with luxury tax — The New York Yankees have been hit with a $13.9 million luxury tax bill, their lowest since 2003. — The fee, assessed Thursday by Major League Baseball under its labor contract, is down from $18 million last year and $25.7 million in 2009, when the Yankees won the World Series.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox hit with $3.4 million luxury tax — The Red Sox have to pay $3.4 million in luxury tax to Major League Baseball, up from $1.5 million last season. The Associated Press obtained the figures. — The only other team over the limit were the Yankees, who were hit with a $13.9 million bill.
Discussion:
FenwayNation
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Trade market for Rockies' Smith taking shape — Rockies outfielder Seth Smith, expendable after the team signed Michael Cuddyer, is drawing trade interest from the Mariners, Athletics, Braves, Mets, and Rays, major-league sources said. — Smith could earn close to $3 million in salary arbitration …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation and MLB Rumors
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Mets among 5 teams interested in Rockies OF Seth Smith
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Josh Thole says he has to prove himself every day — In a report for the New York Post, Josh Thole says: … In 114 games last season and 386 plate appearances, Thole hit .268 with a .345 OBP, 20 doubles and 40 RBI while striking out 12.2 percent of the time.
Discussion:
SNY Why Guys
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
New York Notes: Thole, Wright, Yankees
Discussion:
New York Post, Boston Globe and MetsBlog.com
Fox Sports:
Source: Twins to sign RHP Marquis — The Twins, seeking to boost their starting rotation, are close to signing free-agent right-hander Jason Marquis, according to a major-league source. — Marquis, 33, went 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA for the Nationals last season before getting traded …
Discussion:
Minneapolis Star Tribune, Yahoo! Sports and Over The Baggy
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Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Twins close to a deal with Jason Marquis
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Tracy Ringolsby / Baseball America:
Larkin, Morris May Get Their Calls — DENVER—Throughout his career, Jack Morris always was up for a battle, so why should things be any different now? — The most dominant pitcher of his era, Morris is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the 13th time. It could well be his lucky number.
Philly.com:
Years of silent fear: 6th person accuses Conlin — LINDA STELLA said that she was just a girl when Bill Conlin pulled her onto his lap and began “flexing his leg muscles” during a family birthday party at his house in South Jersey. She leaped off his lap and looked back.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, Kranepool Society and Deadspin
Chicago Sun Times:
Sox close to signing John Danks to 5-year, $65 million extension — White Sox left-hander John Danks, who has been shopped throughout general manager Ken Williams' rebuilding exploration journey this offseason, is close to signing an extension. — The Christmastime present …
RELATED:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Danks, White Sox reportedly agree to $65 million deal
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo! Sports, The LoHud Yankees Blog and baseballmusings.com
