Top News:
Fox Sports:
Darvish, Texas agree to six-year deal — The Texas Rangers and Japanese pitching star Yu Darvish have agreed on a six-year contract, the team announced Wednesday. — The deal is worth close to $60 million, one major-league source confirmed to FOXSports.com. It does not include deferred money.
RELATED:
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers, Yu Darvish reach deal … ARLINGTON, Texas — Japanese ace Yu Darvish will be pitching in a Texas Rangers uniform in 2012, agreeing to a six-year deal worth approximately $60 million on Wednesday. — Darvish agreed to the deal, which includes a player option for the sixth year, just before Wednesday's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
Discussion:
Seattle Mariners blog and 6-4-2
Matt Snyder / Eye on Baseball:
Darvish, Rangers agree to six-year contract — Starting pitcher Yu Darvish has agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers, sources have told CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman. Heyman has also learned the contract is for six years and $60 million. The Rangers paid a reported $51.7 million simply for the right to negotiate with Darvish.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Angels blog, Baseball Nation, SI Tracking Blog and Yankees Fans Unite
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
It's time for Rangers to make a deal with Yu Darvish — ARLINGTON — Club officials and the agents for Yu Darvish worked late into the night Tuesday in an attempt put the finishing touches on a deal that would put the Japanese star pitcher in a Texas Rangers uniform.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Federal Baseball, SI Tracking Blog and MLB.com
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Darvish not done and not guaranteed
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, The Big Lead and HardballTalk
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs, Red Sox want Bud Selig to set compensation for Theo Epstein — Theo Epstein, with manager Dale Sveum, has been unable to settle compensation with former Red Sox colleague Ben Cherington. The Red Sox have held the upper hand in negotiations. Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
Discussion:
HardballTalk, BoSox Injection, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, Clubhouse Insider, Old Time Family Baseball and NESN.com
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Big gulf between Red Sox and Big Papi
Discussion:
Over the Monster, ESPN and baseballmusings.com
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Gerardo Concepcion nears free agency — Cuban left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion is closer to being declared an MLB free agent after establishing residence in Mexico on Tuesday, his agent said. — The agent, Jaime Torres, said that Concepcion is now a resident of Mexico and is currently training in the Dominican Republic.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and ESPN
RELATED:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Gerardo Concepcion free to deal — Cuban left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion has been declared a free agent and is free to negotiate with any major league team, his agent said Wednesday. — The agent, Jaime Torres, said Concepcion established residency in Mexico as of Tuesday and is presently training in the Dominican Republic.
Andrew Baggarly / Boston Herald:
Tim Lincecum seeking record $21.5 million; Giants, Pablo Sandoval agree on 3-year deal — The Giants and Tim Lincecum might have grabbed baseball industry headlines Tuesday when they exchanged record-setting figures in arbitration, but the club made its most declarative investment of the day in All-Star third baseman Pablo Sandoval.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Tim Lincecum asks $21.5M in arbitration
Discussion:
THE BOOK, ESPN and CBSSports.com
Steve Dilbeck / Dodgers Blog:
The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Tebow and Jesus Christ — There is no mistaking the precocious maturity of Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Whether in his calm focus on the mound or in the clubhouse, he is beyond his 23 years. He appears remarkably centered and at peace with himself …
Discussion:
Deadspin and HardballTalk
csnphilly.com:
Agent expects ‘elite’ contract for Hamels — One contract watch is over for Cole Hamels and another is just beginning. — Hamels and the Phillies avoided an arbitration hearing when they agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract on Tuesday (see blog). — The Phillies already had control of Hamels' rights for 2012.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cole Hamels shatters record (for now) with $15 million deal
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
Stuff.co.nz:
Kiwi teen signs seven year Major League deal — New Zealand teenager Pita Rona has penned a seven-year deal with Major League Baseball franchise the Baltimore Orioles. — The Aucklander, 17, a former Black Sox softball player, controversially switched codes late last year to focus on baseball …
Discussion:
School of Roch and Orioles-Nation
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Profar No. 2 on list of top SS prospects — MLB.com's Top 50 Prospects list has been expanded to 100. The 2012 version will be unveiled on Wednesday, Jan. 25, on MLB.com as well as on a one-hour show on MLB Network, airing at 10 p.m. ET. Leading up to that, MLB.com will take a look at baseball's top 10 prospects at each position.
Evan Grant / Rangers Blog:
Rangers remain interested in Prince Fielder, but only in “creative” deal — Having come far enough that they took a meeting with agent Scott Boras last week, the Rangers are still willing to listen on Prince Fielder, too. — But the bulk of the work will have to be done by the agent and Fielder.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and baseballmusings.com
