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12:05 AM ET, January 21, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays To Sign Carlos Pena  —  The Rays have agreed to sign Carlos Pena to a one-year deal that will bring the powerful first baseman back to Tampa Bay, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports on Twitter.  He'll obtain approximately $7.25MM, Heyman reports.  Yahoo's Tim Brown reported earlier …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)— The Tampa Bay Rays have added a familiar bat to the middle of their lineup.  —  A person with knowledge of the agreement tells The Associated Press that slugger Carlos Pena has agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract to return to the team he posted impressive power numbers for four seasons.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays re-sign first baseman Carlos Pena  —  The Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed first baseman Carlos Pena, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed.  —  Pena is pumped about the move, writing, “Sooooo excited ... !!!!!” in a text message and saying he's finalizing details now.
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Could the Rockies trade for Justin Turner?  —  Troy Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies had been trying to acquire Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox, but those talks have stalled and .  Instead, Renck says, “it's more likely they get someone like Justin Turner than Scutaro now.”
Discussion: Boston Globe
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Indians Acquire Kevin Slowey  —  4:49pm: The Rockies are sending $1.25MM to Cleveland in the deal, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets.  That means the Indians will pay Slowey $1.5MM in 2012.  —  3:03pm: The Indians have acquired starting pitcher Kevin Slowey and cash considerations from the Rockies for right-handed reliever Zach Putnam.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies ship Slowey to Cleveland, push for 2B
Discussion: HardballTalk
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Yu mania makes debut at Rangers Ballpark  —  Japan's latest superstar import greeted with plenty of fanfare  —  ARLINGTON — Yu Darvish, in his first news conference at Rangers Ballpark, was able to show some flashes of humor.  At one point, he talked about his first visit earlier this month.
Discussion: SI Tracking Blog
RELATED:
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Mike Napoli running on injured ankle
Discussion: HardballTalk
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Talking some baseball over dinner last night  —  The 73rd annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner was held at the Westin Copley last night.  A large crowd attended and had a chance to hear from assorted award-winners and guests including Ben Cherington, Bobby Valentine, David Ortiz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Lavarnway and Josh Reddick.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cherington confident about Red Sox's rotation
Discussion: Boston Globe
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Cherington: Crawford's wrist OK at end of year
Discussion: Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Brewers OF Aoki cashes in on longtime ‘dream’  —  TOKYO — Even with a significant cut in salary, Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki is pleased to be a Milwaukee Brewer.  —  “I'm just happy to get the opportunity to play in the major leagues,” Aoki said at a news conference on Friday.
Discussion: HardballTalk and JSOnline
RELATED:
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers' payroll pushing $100 million
Discussion: Baseball Prospectus and MLB Rumors
ESPNdeportesLosAngeles com / MLB:
Source: A's interested in Manny Ramirez  —  ORLANDO — The Oakland Athletics are “very interested” in making Manny Ramirez their designated hitter next season, a source told ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com.  —  Ramirez  —  Ramirez, 39, has been working out in Miami since December and has plans …
Discussion: SI Tracking Blog and Deadspin
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Romo, Giants avoid arbitration with deal  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Sergio Romo avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.575 million deal, the Giants announced on Friday.  —  Romo's accord left right-hander Tim Lincecum as San Francisco's only unsigned arbitration-eligible player.
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
‘Lach’ finds special place back with Angels  —  Halos happy to draw on former pitching coach's expertise … ANAHEIM — Like he'll say about so many of those on his first staff, general manager Jerry Dipoto calls Marcel Lachemann a baseball treasure.  More specifically, though, Lachemann is an Angels treasure.
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets among four teams interested in Jeff Francis  —  Jerry Crasnick of ESPN says the Mets are among four teams “keeping tabs” on LHP Jeff Francis.  —  Francis, 31, went 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA 183 innings over 31 starts for the Royals last season.  Although he allowed 224 hits, he allowed just 39 walks while striking out 91.
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers sign Hawpe  —  The Rangers have signed first baseman-outfielder Brad Hawpe to a Minor League contract.  He gives the Rangers some depth at first base in case Mitch Moreland is not ready.  —  The Rangers have scheduled a Major news conference for Friday night.  Wait a minute, that is for Yu Darvish.
 
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