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5:00 PM ET, January 5, 2012

Ballbug

 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.
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Bruce Levine / ESPN:   Source: Cubs deal Carlos Zambrano
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
MacDougal on verge of signing one-year deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are close to re-signing right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal, who would round out their bullpen, to a one-year, $1 million contract.  —  MacDougal, who turns 35 in March, was signed a year ago by the Dodgers …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
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.
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:
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:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox may prefer Soler to Cespedes
Discussion: FenwayNation
Josh Weinstock / FanGraphs Baseball:
Explaining the Command Disconnect  —  We only remember the most exciting plays.  Diving catches, game-winning hits, high-pressure situations — these are the things that fill our memories and our imaginations.  But baseball isn't always exciting — often it's far from it.
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, “Harris became a clubhouse leader and one of manager Terry Collins' favorites, so a return is not impossible.”
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
MLB:
Source: Manny Ramirez plans workout  —  Manny Ramirez plans to work out for teams later this month in an effort to return to the major leagues, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.  —  Ramirez  —  There were no immediate word on which teams are interested in watching Ramirez work out, Olney reported.
Discussion: HardballTalk
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.
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
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
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
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
 
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 More News: 
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels ‘very unlikely’ to add closer Ryan Madson
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds remain in market for depth in left field
Discussion: Cincinnati Reds and MLB Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Return of Angels slugger Mark Trumbo delayed again
Discussion: SI Tracking Blog
 Earlier Picks: 
Stan McNeal / Sporting News Stan McNeal Feed RSS:
Astros' new GM adds stats guru, ex-cheerleader to staff
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
Dan Szymborski / Transaction Oracle:
2012 ZiPS Projections - Milwaukee Brewers
 

 
From WeSmirch:

New York Times:
Private messages detail an alleged campaign to smear Blake Lively after she accused Justin Baldoni of misconduct on the set of “It Ends With Us.”

Gil Macias / People:
Alfa Anderson, Vocalist Behind Chic Hits Including ‘Good Times’ and ‘Le Freak,’ Dies at 78: ‘Forever Loved’

TMZ.com:
Michael B. Jordan Trespasser At Home, Police Respond

 
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