Top News:
Baseball Insider:
“No real favorite” in 5-team Garza derby — There is “no real favorite” in the five-team Matt Garza sweepstakes, according to someone familiar with the talks. — The teams involved the derby for the 28-year-old Cubs righthander at this point are the Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, Red Sox and Marlins.
Discussion:
It's About The Money and FenwayNation
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Sox can't buy their way out of pitching problems — The Red Sox were a destination point for expensive free agents during the tenure of former general manager Theo Epstein, the doors to Fenway Park thrown open each winter for the best players in baseball. Invariably they left with big checks.
Discussion:
BoSox Injection and FenwayNation
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Jason Frasor From White Sox — The Blue Jays have acquired Jason Frasor from the White Sox in exchange for right-handed pitchers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb, according to a press release. Frasor, 34, returns to Toronto where he played his entire big league career before being traded to the White Sox mid-season.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Batter's Box Interactive …
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
MLB whispers: Jays prospect Drabek bait for Cubs' Garza
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, Pinstripe Alley and MLB Daily Dish
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Sources: Tigers join pursuit of Cubs' Garza
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Detroit Free Press, Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish and SI Tracking Blog
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Padres Acquire Carlos Quentin — The Padres have acquired Carlos Quentin from the White Sox for pitching prospects Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez, the teams announced. It's the second time Padres GM Josh Byrnes and White Sox GM Kenny Williams have gotten together for a trade involving Quentin …
RELATED:
Jenny Vrentas / New Jersey Online:
Santonio Holmes benched as Jets' season ends with loss at Miami — MIAMI — As the Jets' season ended here with a 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins today, one of the Rex Ryan-appointed captains — receiver Santonio Holmes — was on the sideline, benched and frustrated and a symbol of this team's flawed chemistry.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, SBNation.com, NESN.com and Bleacher Report
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Insider: Albert Pujols showed he's human — Our Baseball Person of the Year award goes to the person who helps us learn not just about the game but about ourselves as people. — This year's recipient is Albert Pujols, long of the Cardinals and now of the Angels. — Why?
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and HardballTalk
NBA.com:
STATEMENT FROM KINGS HEAD COACH PAUL WESTPHAL — “Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life! — As coaches, we can only ask that our players …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, NESN.com, SBNation.com, The Big Lead and Bleacher Report
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Gibson addresses Braun's drug test — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — In an interview with Arizona Republic sports columnist Dan Bickley, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was asked about the positive drug test of Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleacher Report
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays sign LHP Laffey to minor-league deal — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed LHP Aaron Laffey to a minor-league contract on Saturday with an invite to attend Major League spring training. — Laffey began last season with the Seattle Mariners prior to being claimed on waivers …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive … and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Rays top New Year's Power Rankings — Buster Olney continues his top-10 series with a New Year's power rankings. The Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies all have higher payrolls, but dominant pitching and superb defense make the Tampa Bay Rays the best team in baseball.
Cincinnati.com:
Larkin is only no-doubter on Hall of Fame ballot — PLAYER VALUE RANKINGS ("WAR") — My second-favorite measuring tool to gauge who may or may not be a Baseball Hall of Famer is called “WAR” (Wins Above Replacement). — It judges a player's career value to his team by determining …
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Tomlin says Mendenhall could have torn ACL — The Steelers won their game on Sunday in Cleveland, but they lost their shot at the bye week that would have accompanied the AFC North title. — They also may have lost their starting running back for the bulk of the offseason, if not longer.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog and Bleacher Report
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves trainer's wife dies in car accident — ATLANTA — Braves head athletic trainer Jeff Porter's wife Kathy died on Saturday afternoon after the family's sports utility vehicle collided with a Georgia State Patrol cruiser less than a mile north of Turner Field.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Jones returning to Yankees in 2012 — NEW YORK — Andruw Jones is set to put the pinstripes back on next season, agreeing to terms on Friday on a one-year contract. — The 34-year-old Jones will earn a base salary of $2 million and could tack on $1.4 million in performance incentives, CBSSports.com has reported.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Boras and Fielder did not meet with Angelos on free agent tour — In an attempt to market his top free-agent client to major league baseball's biggest decision-makers, renowned player representative Scott Boras took slugging first baseman Prince Fielder on a brief tour this month to meet with several club owners.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
A-Rod's blood treatment care toes a fine line — Five years ago, I asked a question: What is a performance-enhancing drug? I had read a study from Denmark that espoused human growth hormone's ability to heal broken bones faster, and it turned my 20/20 vision on the issue to 20/20,000.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
