Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Andrew Bailey — The Red Sox have acquired Andrew Bailey from the Athletics in a trade that will send Josh Reddick to Oakland and Ryan Sweeney to Boston, the teams announced. First base prospect Miles Head and right-handed pitching prospect Raul Alcantara are going to Oakland in the deal.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, SI Tracking Blog, Baseball Insider, Call to the Pen, Boston Globe, Red Sox Monster, Baseball America, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo! Sports, Bucs Dugout and FenwayNation
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Ben Cherington talks Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard and the Red Sox' right field situation — Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington spoke via a conference call regarding his team's trade of Josh Reddick, Raul Alcantara, and Miles Head to Oakland for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney.
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, Over the Monster, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Red Sox acquire closer Bailey from A's — Outfielder Sweeney also headed to Boston in five-player swap — The Red Sox found their new closer Wednesday afternoon, acquiring right-hander Andrew Bailey from the A's for three players. — The trade was first reported by ESPN's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
Crashburn Alley
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox acquire Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney — The Red Sox have acquired Oakland closer Andrew Bailey and OF Ryan Sweeney. — Josh Reddick is going to Oakland as part of the deal. The Athletics also receive Single A first baseman Miles Head and Single A RHP Raul Alcantara.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cherington: Bailey is a top-quality closer — Ben Cherington just did a conference call with the media. A few of his more interesting comments . . . On Andrew Bailey: “Andrew's a proven, top-quality closer in the American League. He's done for three years and had a lot of success.
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Yankees' A-Rod saw German doctors on advice from Kobe — Kobe Bryant can be credited with an assist to Alex Rodriguez. — According to multiple sources, the Yankees third baseman recently followed a recommendation from Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star, and traveled to Germany …
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors, New York Magazine, River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports and FenwayNation
RELATED:
Associated Press:
A-Rod has plasma-rich platelet injections in knee, shoulder — The New York Yankees say star third baseman Alex Rodriguez is totally fine after having special treatment on his right knee and left shoulder in Germany earlier this month. — The 36-year-old Rodriguez had plasma-rich platelet …
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Reports: Yankees agree to minor-league deal with reliever Hideki Okajima — The Yankees have agreed to a minor-league contract with former Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, according to multiple reports. Okajima, who turned 36 on Christmas Day, will be invited to spring training and could compete …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Hideki Okajima
Discussion:
HardballTalk, New York Yankees Fan Blog and The Yankee Analysts
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright expects to excel — As he's advanced the past couple of weeks with his throwing program, Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright can no longer fight his nature. — He'll get to one of his last pitches of a workout and wait for his catcher to expect another fastball.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
Boomskie on Baseball:
My Hall of Fame Ballot for 2012 — I voted for Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Rafael Palmeiro, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell. — It's a very down year for first-year possibilities on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot distributed …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and HardballTalk
eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com:
Gap still exists in Giants/Lincecum talks — After some more negotiating this winter, indications are that there's still a sizable gap in long-term contract talks between the San Francisco Giants and their ace pitcher Tim Lincecum. — Neither side would speak directly about the specifics …
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Boras taking his time with Fielder deal — To the question, “What the heck is taking Prince Fielder so long to sign a contract?” his agent, Scott Boras, essentially replies, “These things take time.” — Fielder is a rare free agent, a 27-year-old slugger with 230 career homers …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Baseball Nation and MLB Rumors
Bill Lucey / The Morning Delivery:
A Departing Q & A with George Vecsey — I always hoped this day would never come. — Breaking into journalism as a sports reporter back in 1960 with Newsday on Long Island, then beginning in 1968, landing at The New York Times as a general assignment sports reporter …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
