Top News:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Oswalt likely to sign with Cards ‘soon’ — Free-agent pitcher Roy Oswalt has elected to remain in the National League and is likely to sign with theSt. Louis Cardinals “soon,” a major league source said late Friday night. — Presumably, any agreement would be pending a physical for Oswalt …
RELATED:
Steve DeShazo / Sports and stuff:
Maine signs with Red Sox — John Maine will have a new team and a new role in 2012. — The Boston Red Sox confirmed Friday that they have signed Maine, a North Stafford High School graduate, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Over the Monster, SoxProspects News, SI Tracking Blog, Boston Globe, NESN.com and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Red Sox tickets go digital to foil scalping — BOSTON—The Boston Red Sox are going to a new digital ticketing system for the cheapest seats at Fenway Park to keep them out of the hands of scalpers. — Fans with seats in the $12 upper bleacher section for high-demand games will receive only digital tickets.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Mark Cuban, Dennis Gilbert eliminated from Dodgers' bidding race — At least eight bidders reach the next round, including groups of Magic Johnson/Stan Kasten and Rick Caruso/Joe Torre. — Mavericks owner Mark Cuban yells at officials during the second half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, HardballTalk and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Report: Dodgers begin narrowing bids — NEW YORK — Hedge fund head Steven Cohen and groups including Joe Torre and Magic Johnson have survived the first round of cuts in bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers. — Initial bids were submitted Monday to the financial firm handling the sale by Frank McCourt …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers ownership finalists include Magic, Torre, Cohen [UPDATED] — The finalists in the bidding to own the Dodgers include a group led by Magic Johnson, a group led by developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers Manager Joe Torre, and East Coast hedge-fund giant Steven Cohen.
Discussion:
Lasorda's Lair, ESPN and Eye on Baseball
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Mark Cuban, Dennis Gilbert out of Dodgers' ownership derby — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and local baseball executive Dennis Gilbert did not advance to the second round of the Dodgers' ownership bidding, according to two people familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Chad Moriyama and Mike Scioscia's tragic illness
Fox Sports:
MLB may still add wild cards in '12 — Baseball still could add two wild cards for the 2012 season, according to major-league sources. But to expand the postseason so quickly, the sport must confront a scheduling puzzle that might be impossible to solve. — Union and management officials plan …
Discussion:
Denver Post, MetsBlog.com and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Dodgers Blog:
Hiroki Kuroda talks about leaving Dodgers, why he chose Yankees — Hiroki Kuroda confirmed what Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said earlier this month: Colletti remained in contact with his agent until he decided to sign with the New York Yankees three weeks ago.
Discussion:
Chad Moriyama and River Avenue Blues
Anthony M. Destefano / Newsday:
Picard seeks $83M payback from Mets owners — The trustee in the Bernard Madoff case wants a federal judge to order the owners of the New York Mets to fork over $83 million in fictitious profits received in the giant Ponzi scheme without having to wait for a scheduled March trial, new court filings show.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, MetsBlog.com and NY Daily News
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Sources: Penny considering pitching in Japan — Veteran right-handed pitcher Brad Penny is weighing an opportunity to pitch in Japan, two baseball sources said Friday. Penny, 33 and a veteran of 12 seasons in the major leagues, has had discussions with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League, sources said.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors and Eye on Baseball
