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:
Bleacher Report, It's About The Money, ESPN and FenwayNation
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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
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Nationals a favorite for Fielder — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — An MLB official told me over the weekend that word is spreading in the industry that the Washington Nationals have emerged as a favorite to sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.
Discussion:
Washington Post, MLB Rumors, Federal Baseball, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, SI Tracking Blog and Bleacher Report
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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
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Boras and Fielder did not meet with Angelos on free agent tour
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
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 …
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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
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: How could Darvish shape the rotation? — Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers questions in latest Inbox — With the Red Sox getting Andrew Bailey, what do you see the Rangers doing? Do you see a Prince Fielder signing once Yu Darvish is signed, and then a possible trade for a reliever?
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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, SBNation.com, NESN.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:
Brew Beat, HardballTalk, Bleacher Report and Baseball Nation
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 …
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.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
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:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Source: Yankees keep Andruw Jones — Andruw Jones will return to the New York Yankees in 2012. — The power-hitting outfielder agreed to terms on a one-year contract on Friday, pending the outcome of a physical. According to a baseball source who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and Yahoo! Sports
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