Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
7:40 PM ET, January 5, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Amanda Comak / Washington Times:
Nats GM Mike Rizzo says nothing has changed with regard to Prince Fielder  —  The Washington Nationals and Prince Fielder.  Prince Fielder and the Washington Nationals.  With each day that ends with the slugging first baseman still on the free-agent market, the assumption grows that when it comes …
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Washington's end game for Fielder
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:   Business of Scott Boras unfinished
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.
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Nakajima, Yankees unable to reach deal  —  With no agreement, veteran shortstop returns to Seibu Lions  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees announced on Thursday that they were unable to sign infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, who will instead continue to play for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League.
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 …
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
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Rangers hire Josh Hamilton's father-in-law as the outfielder's new accountability partner  —  From Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com: … Chadwick will travel on the road with the Rangers, watching over Hamilton's daily activities and providing him a steady source of encouragement …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera pleads no contest to drunken driving, will not get jail time  —  Miguel Cabrera DUI arrest: The Florida state attorney's office today released a police video in Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera's Feb. 16 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence.
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: Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Associated Press:
Mets GM doesn't expect major moves before spring training  —  NEW YORK — Expecting no major moves before the start of spring training next month, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson thinks his payroll-cutting team can improve on last year's 77-85 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East.
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: NESN.com and HardballTalk
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.
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.
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.
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: Lone Star Ball and Rangers Blog
RELATED:
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: Lookout Landing and HardballTalk
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 7:40 PM ET, January 5, 2012.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Photo of the day: Is Alex Rodriguez a nerd or a hipster?
Discussion: NotGraphs Baseball and Deadspin
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets unlikely to re-sign Willie Harris
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Designate Elih Villanueva For Assignment
Discussion: Fish Stripes
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Mr. Met Keeps His Head Up
Discussion: HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels ‘very unlikely’ to add closer Ryan Madson
 Earlier Picks: 
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
Stan McNeal / Sporting News Stan McNeal Feed RSS:
Astros' new GM adds stats guru, ex-cheerleader to staff
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
 

 
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

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page