Top News:
Fox Sports:
Zambrano completes Marlins' circus act — To: Rick Jaffe, Senior VP, FOXSports.com — Much as I enjoy covering all 30 teams as the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com, the time has come for a change. — I am writing to ask that you allow me to cover the Miami Marlins full time next season.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and South Side Sox
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, River Avenue Blues and Talking Chop
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano
Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Baseball Prospectus, csnchicago.com, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Call to the Pen
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs deal Carlos Zambrano
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers, Napoli likely to settle on one-year deal — GM Daniels discusses potential extensions, makeup of bullpen — ARLINGTON — The Rangers, while focused on signing pitcher Yu Darvish, have not shut down all other business. They are still discussing long-term contracts for certain players …
Discussion:
Rangers Blog and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Daniels on Napoli, Fielder, Bullpen
Daniels on Napoli, Fielder, Bullpen
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Jenks has a second procedure — More fragments taken from back — BOBBY JENKS Late start in spring training — Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks recently had a second spinal decompression procedure after experiencing discomfort following the first procedure in mid-December.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and FenwayNation
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Yankees likely to pass on signing Japanese SS Hiroyuki Nakajima, may re-sign Eric Chavez — Nakajima is eligible to return to Japan, be free agent next winter — Japan's Hiroyuki Nakajima is heading to the MLB next season, but it likely won't be with the Yankees.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! Sports
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers start to raise railings — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers are in the early stages of installation of railings throughout Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in an effort to make the park safer for fans. — Shortly after 39-yard-old Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone died …
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets unlikely to re-sign Willie Harris — The Mets “aren't likely to attempt to re-sign OF Willie Harris,” tweets Andy Martino of the Daily News. — In October, Martino said a team source indicated that Harris and Scott Hairston would not be resigned until much later in the off-season, “if they are resigned at all.”
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels open contract talks with Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar — Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto has had preliminary discussions with the agents for second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar about multi-year deals that would prevent the infielders from becoming free agents after 2012.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Designate Elih Villanueva For Assignment — The Marlins designated right-hander Elih Villanueva for assignment to create 40-man roster space for Greg Dobbs, tweets Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. The Marlins, who finalized their deal with Dobbs earlier today, still have a full 40-man roster.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Mr. Met Keeps His Head Up — You know Mr. Met. Enormous baseball for a head and four fingers on each hand. An eternal smile and black eyebrows set at optimistic angles. Blue Mets cap perched on his head like a yarmulke. — Mr. Met, the red-stitched Übermensch born without a first name …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Washington's end game for Fielder — Buster Olney writes that signing Prince Fielder would immediately make the Washington Nationals contenders in the NL East, as Fielder would transform the lineup. But how would the dollars and years sag on the franchise in future seasons?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Japan IF Kawasaki says he has Mariners' invite — KOBE, Japan — Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki says he's been invited to spring training by the Seattle Mariners. — “I'll be going to Arizona in February to compete for a job,” he said Thursday. — Kawasaki batted .267 with 161 hits …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels ‘very unlikely’ to add closer Ryan Madson — There have been persistent Internet rumors linking the Angels to free-agent closer Ryan Madson, but General Manager Jerry Dipoto said it is “very, very unlikely” the team will acquire the former Philadelphia Phillies relief ace, or any closer, for that matter.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Baseball Nation
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' Seth Smith to Atlanta Braves trade talk cools — While outfielder Seth Smith remains a coveted commodity, the Atlanta Braves' interest has cooled, according to a major league source with the direct knowledge of the talks. — The Braves are unwilling to move infielder Martin Prado …
Discussion:
mlbbuzz, Purple Row, Talking Chop, MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish