Top News:
Fox Sports:
If Nats want Fielder, now may be perfect — The Prince Fielder sweepstakes finally are nearing conclusion, according to major league sources. The Nationals remain a leading contender for the free-agent first baseman, if not the outright favorite. — Which is as it should be.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog, Pirates Prospects, Federal Baseball, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Texas likely out of Prince Fielder free-agent derby — The Texas Rangers believe they are out out of the bidding for free-agent slugger Prince Fielder, according to a person with knowledge of the talks, but not authorized to speak publicly because of the ongoing negotiations.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats in running for Prince, but race far from over
Discussion:
Washington Post, Federal Baseball and MLB Daily Dish
Ken Rosenthal / mlbbuzz:
Sources: Nationals know Zimmerman's price
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, SI Tracking Blog and MLB Rumors
Matt Snyder / Eye on Baseball:
Prince Fielder signs with the Tigers — Chalk up one more for the so-called mystery team. First it was Cliff Lee going to the Phillies, then Albert Pujols heading to the Angels. Now Prince Fielder has shocked the baseball world by signing with the Detroit Tigers, a team …
Discussion:
Baseball Insider, Beyond the Box Score, Bless You Boys, Plain Dealer, MLB Daily Dish and Al's Ramblings
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Tigers To Sign Prince Fielder — Prince Fielder, who hit baseballs out of Tiger Stadium as a 12-year-old, is on his way back to Detroit, where his father, Cecil Fielder, starred for seven years. The Tigers have agreed to sign the free agent first baseman to a nine-year, $214MM contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball, Lookout Landing, Bucs Dugout and Batter's Box Interactive …
Fox Sports:
Sources: Tigers land Fielder in megadeal — On the long list of Scott Boras shockers, this one ranks near the top. — Boras' top free-agent client, first baseman Prince Fielder, has agreed to a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Tigers, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
Bats
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Giants, Lincecum Agree To Two-Year Deal — The Giants and Tim Lincecum have agreed to a two-year, $40.5MM contract extension, avoiding arbitration, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on Twitter. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that the sides were …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Getting Blanked and Baseball Nation
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Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
OF Cody Ross agrees to sign with Red Sox
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Boston Herald
Mike Cole / NESN.com:
Report: Red Sox Sign Cody Ross to One-Year Deal
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Getting Blanked and Baseball Nation
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Agree To Sign Cody Ross
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Fox Sports, Call to the Pen, Surviving Grady, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Rob Sinclair / CBC News:
Blue Jays re-sign Morrow for $20M — The Toronto Blue Jays locked up a key right-hand man Tuesday, re-signing starting pitcher Brandon Morrow to a three-year, $20-million US contract. — The pact includes a $10-million US club option for 2015. — Morrow, a 27-year-old right-hander …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and Batter's Box Interactive …
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Agent: Shortstop Vizquel agrees with Blue Jays
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and Batter's Box Interactive …
Joey Nowak / MLB.com:
Emotional Posada retires after 17-year career — Longtime Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who spent his entire 17-year Major League career in pinstripes, announced his retirement during a Tuesday morning news conference at Yankee Stadium. — “Today's a very emotional day for me,” said Posada.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Pinstripe Alley and Yahoo! Sports
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Associated Press:
Jorge Posada: 17 Seasons, 5 Titles and 1 Team — NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge Posada was watching television when he saw speculation on which teams were interested in signing him as a free agent. — “They put my face on different uniforms,” he said. “And it didn't look good.”
Jerome Solomon / Ultimate Astros:
Solomon: Astros name change? (Forget) that — Jerseys from Astros' 50 years — It is only right that Jim Crane has decided to slash ticket prices for that technically-major-but-closer-to-minor- league baseball team now known as the Houston Astros. — Perhaps fans can get their money's worth in the 2012 season.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and WasWatching.com
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Zachary Levine / Ultimate Astros:
Astros drop ticket prices, relax food policies in new ‘fan-friendly initiatives’
Discussion:
JSOnline and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Zachary Levine / Ultimate Astros:
Astros add ‘Baseball Prospectus’ alum Fast in drive for stats knowledge — The Astros added to their statistical strength in the front office, hiring Mike Fast, formerly of Baseball Prospectus to serve in the baseball operations department. — Fast, one of the foremost experts on pitch trajectory data …
Discussion:
Hardball Times and baseballmusings.com
Michael Engel / Kings of Kauffman:
Check Your Sources — It's a whole different world being a fan of baseball these days. Technology makes it possible for fans to watch their team from anywhere, to discuss their team from anywhere and for information to spread like wildfire. News breaks faster than ever.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers receive more than 10 opening bids for the team — Those submitting bids include Magic Johnson, Mark Cuban, Peter O'Malley and Joe Torre. Sources say that St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has explored whether to bid. — As expected, those involved in groups bidding for the Dodgers …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, Los Angeles Times, MLB Daily Dish and Mike Silva's …
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Associated Press:
Retired Manager La Russa to Manage NL All-Stars — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tony La Russa will become the second retired manager to lead an All-Star team next summer, joining Hall of Famer John McGraw. — La Russa concluded a 16-season run in St. Louis with the team's second World Series title …
Baseball America:
Preseason College Top 25 — DURHAM, N.C—Florida is No. 1 in Baseball America's preseason Top 25 rankings for the second year in a row—and the second time in school history. The Gators, who finished as national runners-up a year ago, return the bulk of their everyday lineup …
Discussion:
Sports Now
Associated Press:
‘Fausto Carmona’ to miss spring training — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta said the pitcher known as Fausto Carmona won't be making it to spring training. — Acta told The Associated Press late Monday that the team is trying to speed up Carmona's arrival.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, SI Tracking Blog and Baseball Nation
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
2012 Baseball Farm System Rankings — I have never done formal farm system rankings before. People have asked me to do it constantly over the years, but I guess I read too much post-modern stuff in college and the idea of saying “this farm system is better than that farm system” never appealed to me outside of generalities.
Discussion:
Wahoo's on First, Drunk Jays Fans, Gaslamp Ball and Pirates Prospects
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Reinsdorf gave Guillen blessing to leave Sox early for Marlins — In the latest of a seemingly endless saga regarding manager Ozzie Guillen's departure from the Chicago White Sox to the Miami Marlins, Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf issued a statement saying he allowed Guillen …
Discussion:
Miami Marlins
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