Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Henry makes a pitch — Matsuzaka talks frustrating owner — The gloves came off yesterday in the Red Sox ' efforts to sign Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is facing a Thursday midnight deadline in striking a deal with the Sox, or his rights revert back to his Japanese team, the Seibu Lions.
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ESPN:
Boras says Matsuzaka worth $100 million — NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Scott Boras, the agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka said his client "is worth well in excess of $100 million." The Boston Red Sox may not agree, but they said on Monday night that they were prepared to increase their offer to the pitcher.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Sox trying to make a deal: Brass in LA; Henry rips Boras' tactics
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs make offer to Mulder — As the Diamondbacks continue to work the phones in hopes of adding another starting pitcher and maybe, a little more bullpen help, one of their starters from last season was on the verge of signing elsewhere. — Right-hander Miguel Batista …
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Analysis: Need for top-end starter not met — Team running out of time to bolster pitching rotation — On their way out of Orlando after the winter meetings, members of the Mariners organization said they were down, but not out. — "We've made some progress," they said.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Mariners, Batista agree to terms
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers, Gagne agree to deal — Former All-Star reliever to join Texas pending physical — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with reliever Eric Gagne. The agreement is pending a physical but the Rangers have already checked out his medical reports and are satisfied that he is healthy again.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Rangers, Gagne close on one-year deal — One day after reportedly making an offer to left-hander Barry Zito, the Rangers are close to signing another Scott Boras client, free-agent closer Eric Gagne, to a one-year contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The deal, which likely is pending a physical …
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Gagne reaches preliminary agreement with Rangers — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Reliever Eric Gagne and the Texas Rangers reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a one-year contract worth about $6 million. — The agreement was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke …
George King / New York Post:
YANKS, BOSOX GUN FOR BUC — Is there anything the Red Sox and Yankees won't fight over? Now it's Pirates lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez. — While the Red Sox are engaged in the high stakes Daisuke Matsuzaka negotiations that have to be completed by midnight Thursday …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding, Off the Facade, MLB Trade Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Mondesi's House and YanksBlog.com
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Mike DiGiovanna / Associated Press:
Angels agree to deal with reliever Oliver — The Angels, refusing to abandon the concept of a left-hander in the bullpen, signed veteran reliever Darren Oliver to a one-year, $1.5-million contract with a $2-million vesting option for 2008. — After going most of 2004 and 2005 without …
Discussion:
Halo Herald
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Contra Costa Times:Payton agrees to go from A's to O's for $9.5 million
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
METS LUKEWARM ON ZITO & MULDER — The Rangers reportedly anted up for Barry Zito yesterday, though the numbers were not disclosed. But if they ultimately offered six years and around $100 million - an ever-popular prediction - then he will play in Arlington. — At least, that's the conclusion the Mets are bracing for.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Iwamura's agent is still playing hardball … ST. PETERSBURG - With only five negotiating days until Friday's midnight deadline, Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura and the Devil Rays remain far apart. — There are significant differences in terms of money and contract structure, as well as philosophy.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Suppan feels unloved — A month and a half after winning it all, the Cardinals have found themselves merely finalists for four free-agent starting pitchers whom they targeted, and now they may no longer be in the running for one of their own. — The Cardinals were told over the weekend …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Free agent Suppan, Pirates still talking — Team also negotiating with Japanese pitcher — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates have not extended a formal contract to free-agent pitcher Jeff Suppan, but they have proposed a two-year deal and are among the handful …
Heather Gripp / L.A. Daily News:
Comeback road — Former Montclair Prep star Ortiz goes to Puerto Rico to revive MLB career — Russ Ortiz would rather be back home in Arizona with his wife and the twoyoung daughters he hasn't seen nearly enough this year. Instead, he is spending the winter in Puerto Rico searching …
