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9:25 AM ET, December 25, 2011

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox add McClure, Ochoa and Royster to coaching staff  —  The Red Sox announced their coaching staff today.  As was previously reported, Jerry Royster is the new third base coach and Bob McClure the pitching coach.  Alex Ochoa will be the first base coach.  —  Tim Bogar moves to bench coach.
RELATED:
Mike Bauman / MLB.com:
Boston makeover's results will be scrutinized  —  How players respond to organizational changes bears watching  —  It is standard practice for objective observers of the game to view all 30 Major League teams with great interest.  But you're going to watch the 2012 Boston Red Sox with absolute fascination.
Discussion: Boston Globe
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:   Yankees Surpass $200 Million in Total Luxury Tax Payments
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
For Mets, Vast Debt and Not a Lot of Time  —  The finances of major professional sports teams exist largely as the secrets of privately held companies, except for the community-owned Green Bay Packers, who report their profits without a hint of resistance.  —  But elements of the Mets' finances …
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Holidays mean family time for ballplayers  —  Long-running traditions renewed every winter for Major Leaguers  —  They treasure those “opening” days of holidays past, filled with joy by presents ranging from Jered Weaver's first drum set to Mike Matheny's BB gun to Vinnie Pestano's original PlayStation 2 …
Dan Hayes / North County Times:
PADRES: Club to re-engage in extension talks with Maybin  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres will restart contact extension talks with Cameron Maybin next month, two sources confirmed.  —  General manager Josh Byrnes and representatives for the center fielder recently had a “broad” …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds acquire Marshall for Wood, prospects  —  Cincinnati sends Sappelt, Torreyes to Chicago for lefty reliever  —  CINCINNATI — Seeking to shore up the back end of their bullpen, the Reds on Friday completed the trade that acquired lefty reliever Sean Marshall from the Cubs.
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Cubs, Reds reportedly agree to swap lefties
Discussion: Baseball America and Redleg Nation
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:   Cubs Planning “Complete And Total Rebuild”
Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Baseball lucky to have had McLane around  —  Drayton McLane slipped out the backdoor that final day in Milwaukee last month, off to a life out of the spotlight after 17 years as the owner of the Houston Astros.  —  I'm taking this opportunity to say now what I didn't have the chance to say then.
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Duquette on Fielder: “We're monitoring the market”  —  The week between Christmas and New Year's tends to be fairly uneventful in baseball.  I'd often volunteer to be on call during that stretch so the other Orioles beat writer at The Sun could relax and celebrate the holiday with his family.
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Posada more likely a backup plan  —  There's a Spanish-language report today from ESPNDeportes.com that the Rays are among the teams interested in former Yankees star Jorge Posada, including quotes from Posada's father confirming their interest.  —  But from the Rays' perspective …
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Beane On Stadium, Payroll, Draft, Trades, Free Agents  —  Athletics GM Billy Beane spoke to reporters after the Gio Gonzalez trade was made official earlier today.  Here's a recap of the news...  - “We're putting a team together as if we're going to have a new stadium,” said Beane according to MLB.com's Jane Lee (on Twitter).
The Knobler Blog:
White Sox could still deal Gavin Floyd  —  Even after signing John Danks to a contract extension this week, the White Sox remain open to trading fellow starting pitcher Gavin Floyd, according to sources.  —  The White Sox surprised people in baseball (even some in their own organization) …
Discussion: HardballTalk and Call to the Pen
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Fox granted stay; Dodgers can't sell TV rights for now  —  The Dodgers must immediately halt their sale of the team's television rights, a U.S. District Court judge ruled Friday.  —  In granting to Fox Sports a stay of a U.S. Bankruptcy Court decision that permitted the Dodgers to shop …
Discussion: 6-4-2
MLB:
Carlos Beltran, Cardinals agree  —  Free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Beltran  —  The $26 million deal includes a full no-trade clause, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
RELATED:
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:   Beltran reaches two-year deal with Cards
 
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 More News: 
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Three sign Minor League contracts with Angels
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Block joins Uecker in Brewers' radio booth
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Stanton, Morrison off limits
Discussion: HardballTalk
 Earlier Picks: 
MLB.com:
MLB Network  —  Clubhouse Confidential serves as an open forum …
Discussion: THE BOOK
Shannon Drayer / MyNorthwest.com:
Why you do not trade Felix Hernandez right now
 

 
From WeSmirch:

NBC News:
Amber Heard speaks out on Blake Lively allegations against Justin Baldoni: ‘I saw this firsthand’

Edward Segarra / USA Today:
Art Evans, 'A Soldier's Story' and ‘Die Hard 2’ actor, dies at 82

People:
CEO Killing Suspect Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to State Murder Charges

 
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