Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Good starting point for Sox is 200 innings — The Red Sox were one of seven teams that didn't have a pitcher log 200 innings last year. They were joined by the Royals, Nationals, Reds, Pirates, Rockies, and Padres. None of them made the playoffs, and only the Red Sox finished over .500.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, Red Sox Post, NESN.com, HardballTalk, MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
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Fox Sports:
Sources: Red Sox agree with Cook — The Red Sox, taking a step toward upgrading their rotation, have reached agreement with free-agent right-hander Aaron Cook on a minor league contract, according to major league sources. — The deal, which will become official when Cook passes a physical …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Red Sox Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Dan Mennella / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Agree To Sign Aaron Cook — 11:39: The deal is worth $1.5MM prorated if Cook is called up to the Major Leagues, according to Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com. — 9:43pm: The Red Sox have agreed to terms with right-hander Aaron Cook on a minor league contract, pending a physical …
Discussion:
WEEI, Bleacher Report and Bucs Dugout
Peter Gammons / MLB.com:
Big markets remain silent during strange winter — Here it is, approximately six weeks from Spring Training, and Prince Fielder is still on hold, like Rick Ankiel or Aaron Cook. So are Ryan Madson and Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson. — When the Cubs traded for Anthony Rizzo Friday, it sent several clear messages.
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
MLB.com writers cast their HOF ballots — Each year, lifetime members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, i.e. those who spent 10 or more consecutive years with the organization, are bestowed a unique honor: Together, they comprise the electorate for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Jayson Stark / MLB:
Revealing my Hall of Fame ballot — Barry Larkin, of course, plus nine others, but not Alan Trammell or Bernie Williams — Off in the distance, the Steroid Era apocalypse is approaching, only a year away now. Woo-hoo. I can hardly wait. — Yes, way out there, just beyond the horizon …
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Let's Go Tribe and ESPN
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Larry Walker is more Rockies royalty than Hall of Famer — Larry Walker didn't get my vote. Perhaps that's where we should start the debate. Filling out my first Hall of Fame ballot was a welcomed challenge. Writers often lament the task, practically on pins and needles because of the pins and needles of baseball's steroid era.
Discussion:
Purple Row and baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Source: Jorge Posada to retire — The “Core Four” is down to two. — Posada — New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is planning to retire, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — The source told Olney that Posada, 40, is trying to determine the right time to make an announcement …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Bleacher Report, Lady Loves Pinstripes and NESN.com
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Jorge Posada To Announce Retirement
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, New Jersey Online, Getting Blanked, Yahoo! Sports, Sliding Into Home and Deadspin
Howie Rumberg / Associated Press:
AP Source: Yankees Posada set to retire
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Bud Selig's contract as MLB commissioner may be expiring, but don't expect him to go anywhere — Selig has $20 million reasons to remain in baseball's highest posistion when deal ends — As one former MLB executive says, anyone who thinks Bud Selig is willing to walk away from a $20 million …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Disney family to bid for Dodgers, sources say — Stanley Gold, who runs the investment firm for the family of the late Roy Disney, is in talks with investors about buying the Dodgers, sources say. — Stanley Gold, right, with the late Roy Disney in 2004. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Inbox: How high is Pablo's ceiling? — What are the chances of Pablo Sandoval or Nate Schierholtz having a breakout year like Kevin Mitchell did? Mitchell clubbed 47 home runs with 125 RBIs in 1989 after hitting 19 homers the previous season. — It's easy to envision Sandoval becoming one of the National League's elite hitters.
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Reports: Angels, Kendrick agree to extension — The Los Angeles Angels made a major splash in free agency at the winter meetings, but Saturday they locked up one of their own. — The team and second baseman Howie Kendrick have reached agreement on a four-year contract extension worth $33.5 million, according to multiple reports.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
