Top News:
Associated Press:
See ya, 'Stros — Pettitte says Yankees' interest was the difference — HOUSTON (AP) — Andy Pettitte says he moved from Houston back to New York because the Yankees put on a "full-court press" and the Astros showed signs they were ready to move on without him.
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
MacDougal, Sox a team through '09 — Trade with Astros could be resurrected — The White Sox gained more financial certainty Friday when they signed late-inning reliever Mike MacDougal to a three-year, $6.45 million contract. — MacDougal, 29, becomes the fourth Sox player under contract through 2009.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:Andy is back in pinstripes — Will Rocket follow suit?
Discussion:
Off the Facade
George King / New York Post:PETTITTE BACK IN PINSTRIPES — LEFTY A YANK AGAIN; MAYBE ROCKET, TOO
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Tamper tantrum on tap? Red Sox, Dodgers could take gripes to MLB — If the Los Angeles Dodgers want to play rough with the Red Sox [team stats] and file tampering charges with Major League Baseball regarding the signing of outfielder J.D. Drew [stats], the National League club should expect an immediate flurry of counterpunches.
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Tumblin' Dice: Sox' talks with Matsuzaka break down — Negotiations between the Red Sox [team stats] and Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka have essentially broken down, a source familiar with the talks said late last night, adding that unless there is an abrupt change of course …
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs, Marquis reportedly agree to deal — Right-hander was 14-16 with a 6.02 ERA, 96 strikeouts in 2006 — CHICAGO — The Cubs may have landed another starting pitcher in Jason Marquis. — According to multiple reports, Marquis has accepted a three-year offer from the Cubs.
Discussion:
A Cub Fan's Obsession, GROTA, Pinstripe Alley, The View From The Bleachers and Go Crazy, Folks!
RELATED:
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Marquis likely to join Cubs — CHICAGO (AP) — Pitcher Jason Marquis is likely to become the latest acquisition in the Chicago Cubs' offseason spending spree. — Marquis and the Cubs are negotiating a three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the talks said Saturday …
ESPN:
Cubs to bring in Marquis to shore up starting rotation — The Chicago Cubs aren't done spending money just yet. Free-agent pitcher Jason Marquis has signed a three-year deal with the team, according to multiple reports. — The St. Louis Post Dispatch first reported the deal late Friday as being worth $28 million.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
On one level, Meche deal makes sense — Time to defend the indefensible: — Gil Meche, five years, $55 million. — On the insanity scale, it's right there with all of the other off-season doozies — three years, $19 million for Danys Baez; five years, $50 million for Gary Matthews Jr. …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels don't make a deal, and they're happy — They didn't get a slugger during the winter meetings, but they didn't lose any pitching depth. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Angels left baseball's winter meetings Thursday without a slugger such as Manny Ramirez, Todd Helton or Adam LaRoche …
Discussion:
Halo Herald
MLB.com:
Melvin discusses Brewers' offseason — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin participated in an online chat with fans Friday afternoon. Among the topics discussed were the Winter Meetings, offseason signings, Bill Hall's move to the outfield and plans for the 2007 season. — Doug Melvin: Hello, everyone.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Mulder to visit Rangers on Tuesday — Another pitcher with Oakland Athletics ties is headed to Arlington for a visit. First it was Barry Zito, arriving nearly two weeks ago to be wined and dined by Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and owner Tom Hicks. — Now it's Mark Mulder's turn.
Discussion:
MLB.com
ESPN:
Kline stays put by signing with Giants — Steve Kline reached an agreement on a two-year, $3.5 million pact with San Francisco Friday, keeping the lefty reliever in a key role for the Giants. — Kline, 34, has a 33-37 record in 10 seasons with Cleveland, Montreal, St. Louis, Baltimore and San Francisco.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Bruce Jenkins / San Francisco Chronicle:Giants: no plan, no pride — and no chance
Discussion:
Purple Row
MLB.com:
Royals sign Dotel to one-year deal — KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Royals announced today the signing of reliever Octavio Dotel to a one-year contract for the 2007 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. — "The back end of our bullpen was a major emphasis this off season …
Amy Nelson / ESPN:
The secret life of GMs — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Each year, baseball hosts the biggest gossip event in all of sport. Hundreds of journalists and scores of scouts, executives, agents, job seekers and yes, even what appear to be a few groupies, attend the sport's annual winter meetings.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Cuban pitcher arrives for physical — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Yoslan Herrera, the Cuban pitcher the Pirates are close to acquiring, was at PNC Park yesterday and had his required physical, but his contract probably will not be signed until Monday or Tuesday.
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Antonetti in '08 — You may have noticed over on the left sidebar that there's an image that looks an awful lot like a political button. In a sense, it is a political button, though for an election that isn't run by democracy. Due to the way the offseason is unfolding …
