Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds To Sign Ryan Madson — If any doubt remained about the Reds' intentions for the 2012 season, it disappeared this evening — they're going for it. GM Walt Jocketty continued adding to his new-look pitching staff by agreeing to terms with Ryan Madson on a one-year deal.
RELATED:
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds, closer Madson agree on one-year deal — Cincinnati fills one of biggest needs in snagging free agent — CINCINNATI — The Reds agreed to terms late Tuesday on a one-year, $10 million contract with free-agent closer Ryan Madson, a baseball source confirmed to MLB.com.
Matt Snyder / Eye on Baseball:
Reds to sign Madson to one-year contract — Free agent closer Ryan Madson has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman has learned. The monetary details are not yet known. — Madson, 31, was reportedly very close to signing a four-year deal worth …
Discussion:
Baseball Insider and Yahoo! Sports
NY Daily News:
NY Mets close to raising $100 million in minority shares of club; Miguel Batista and Fernando Cabrera agree to minor-league deals — Plan to put the $100 million toward their $350 million debt — Mr. Met approves as Daily News learns that Mets are close to finalizing sale of at least five $20 million shares in team.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Mets sign Batista, Cabrera to minor league deals — NEW YORK - The New York Mets have agreed to minor league contracts with right-handers Miguel Batista and Fernando Cabrera, inviting both to spring training. — The 40-year-old Batista split last season between the St. Louis Cardinals and Mets, going a combined 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA.
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers settle with Fox, ending battle over TV rights sale — The Dodgers and Fox Sports ended their legal hostilities Tuesday night, with the team agreeing to abandon its proposed sale of television rights and Fox agreeing to withdraw its objection to the settlement between Major League Baseball and outgoing owner Frank McCourt.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, Sons of Steve Garvey, Associated Press and 6-4-2
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Pedro Martinez on The Big Show: Of MVP and Cy Young snubs, the Steroid Era, and Boston's everlasting place in his heart — Former Red Sox great Pedro Martinez joined The Big Show on Tuesday to discuss his career in Boston, which featured what some consider to be the most dominant stretch by a pitcher in major league history.
Buster Olney / MLB:
Source: Selig to be offered contract extension — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig will be offered an extension to his current contract, a highly placed source said, and baseball executives presume Selig will continue in the job. — Selig, 77, has one more year remaining on his current contract.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Twins Fan From Afar, Yahoo! Sports, NESN.com and baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
With pieces in place, Halos likely done shopping — GM Dipoto not expecting to make any more ‘significant additions’ — ANAHEIM — Shortly after taking part in an informal luncheon to celebrate Howie Kendrick's four-year, $33.5 million extension on Tuesday, general manager Jerry Dipoto …
Discussion:
Orange County Register, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and FanGraphs Baseball
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Mariners Sign Aaron Heilman — The Mariners have signed Aaron Heilman to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training, the team announced. Frontline represents the 33-year-old right-hander. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick first reported the move on Twitter.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Lookout Landing, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Boras: Pena, Damon remain in play for Rays — 1B Carlos Pena and DH Johnny Damon remain possibilities to fill the' Rays openings for two hitters, agent Scott Boras said Tuesday, but both have interest from other teams. — “I think the Rays need offense,” Boras said. “And both players enjoyed playing there.”
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
The battle over Jeff Bagwell — Buster Olney writes that Jeff Bagwell is seemingly close to the Hall of Fame — earning 56 percent of the votes this year — but yet so far because of the ramifications of his era and PED suspicions that some writers can't seem to overlook.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Bronx Baseball Daily, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Hall debate spawns a new stats superhero, Saberboy — What happens when a veteran baseball beat writer and a statistically inclined blogger get into a heated discussion on Twitter over the Hall of Fame voting? — The birth of a new comic book hero may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
