Top News:
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Source: Red Sox would have to move payroll in order to sign Roy Oswalt — Despite a FoxSports.com report that the Red Sox have “maintained active dialogue” with Roy Oswalt's agent, Bob Garber, the likelihood of the team signing the 34-year-old remains in doubt.
Discussion:
BoSox Injection, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles have some interest in Francisco Cordero — The Orioles have expressed some interest in the lone viable free-agent closer, Francisco Cordero, according to an industry source. — Although discussions are not considered far along, the Orioles have inquired about the 36-year-old right-hander …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
BoSox need to face reality, fix rotation — The Yankees had to upgrade their starting rotation. They knew it. Their fans knew it. The competition knew it, too. — The New York starters were mediocre last year — 14th among 30 big league teams in ERA — and couldn't beat …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Boston Globe, The LoHud Yankees Blog and MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox To Sign Vicente Padilla
Red Sox To Sign Vicente Padilla
Discussion:
Clubhouse Insider, NESN.com, Boston Globe, Boston Globe and SI Tracking Blog
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies trade Smith to Oakland for two pitchers; offer deal to Jamie Moyer — Seth Smith spent the winter in wonderland. On Monday, the questions and uncertainty ended. — With the outfielder viewed as a luxury item after the signing of free agent Michael Cuddyer, Smith was traded …
Discussion:
Old Time Family Baseball, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, baseballmusings.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Athletics acquire OF Smith in deal with Rockies — DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have traded outfielder Seth Smith to the Oakland Athletics for right-hander Guillermo Moscoso and left-hander Josh Outman. — Monday's deal came a day after Smith and the Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,415,000.
Discussion:
Philly.com, MLB Rumors and Cincinnati Reds
Troy Renck / On the Rox:
Rockies' Smith avoids arbitration with one-year deal
Rockies' Smith avoids arbitration with one-year deal
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Sideline Scholars and MLB Daily Dish
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rox trade Smith to A's for Moscoso, Outman
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Angels, Callaspo agree on one-year deal — ANAHEIM — The Angels agreed to a one-year contract with infielder Alberto Callaspo on Monday, thereby avoiding arbitration. — The deal is worth $3.15 million, according to a source, which is slightly higher than the reported figure Kendrys Morales agreed to …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Tigers Avoid Arbitration With Rick Porcello
Tigers Avoid Arbitration With Rick Porcello
Discussion:
Beck's Blog, Bless You Boys, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Report: Angel Pagan, Giants agree — SAN FRANCSICO — The San Francisco Giants and outfielder Angel Pagan agreed to a $4.85 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. — The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the club hadn't formally announced the deal.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees eye Damon as DH — With the Yankees in the market for a designated hitter now that Jesus Montero is heading to Seattle, they are looking at a number of options and reportedly already reached out to Johnny Damon and Carlos Pena. — Since they already added $10 million to the payroll …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Full Count and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Yankees may bring back free agent Johnny Damon to play him as designated hitter
Yankees may bring back free agent Johnny Damon to play him as designated hitter
Discussion:
Royals Review, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Howell deal set for $1.35M, 4 still arbitration eligible — LHP J.P. Howell and the Rays [are finalizing] have completed a one-year deal for $1.35-million to avoid arbitration. — Howell also gets incentive bonuses for 45 and 60 innings pitched, which can push the total value to $1.4-million.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Jorge Castillo / New York Times:
Puerto Rico Traces Decline in Prospects to Baseball Draft — Ivan Rodriguez at bat. Mr. Rodriguez, 41, is currently a free agent and playing for one of the Puerto Rican Winter League's four teams. He is the last active Puerto Rican major leaguer to avoid the draft. More Photos »
Discussion:
HardballTalk and IT IS HIGH!
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 right-handed pitchers — Pair of Pirates, D-backs among game's up-and-coming aces … On the 2011 list of Top 10 right-handed pitchers, there was the American League Rookie of the Year and the hurler who finished fifth in that voting. Seven of the 10 pitched in the big leagues.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds To Sign Ryan Ludwick — The Reds have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a one-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2013, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Ludwick gets a $2.5MM guarantee and could earn another $500K in incentives, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Josh Hamilton's father-in-law backs out — Michael Dean Chadwick has reconsidered being the accountability partner to son-in-law Josh Hamilton because of family considerations. Hamilton said over the weekend that Chadwick, who lives in North Carolina, has a daughter who is finishing up high school.
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Mets' rebuilding efforts are upside-down — Editor's note: Yahoo! Sports will examine the offseason of every MLB team before spring training begins in mid-February. Our series continues with the New York Mets. — 2011 record: 77-85 — Finish: Fourth place, NL East — 2011 final payroll: $142.2 million
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online