Top News:
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Marcus Giles intrigues Mets — The Braves' decision to not offer Marcus Giles a contract by Tuesday night's midnight deadline and make him a free agent opened a potentially intriguing door for the Mets. — Jose Valentin already is signed for $3.8 million next year, but the Mets still appear …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Braves' Giles, Reitsma hit free-agent market — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves decided against offering a contract to second baseman Marcus Giles in a cost-cutting move Tuesday. — The Braves tried to trade their leadoff hitter from this past season but couldn't reach agreement on a deal.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves bid adieu to Giles, Reitsma — Veterans not tendered contracts before Tuesday night deadline — After their attempts to trade Marcus Giles proved unsuccessful, the Braves were forced to say goodbye to the former All-Star second baseman without the benefit of compensation.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
No progress on Matsuzaka — Latest negotiating session lasts only 40 minutes — As day turned into evening in Southern California yesterday, a source with a direct pipeline to the Daisuke Matsuzaka negotiations reported "no progress" in the Red Sox' attempts to sign the Japanese pitcher …
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Boston Herald:
Sox want D-Mat's answer — NEWPORT BEACH, Calif - The Red Sox [team stats] made it clear last night to Japanese star pitcher Daisuke Matzusaka and his agent Scott Boras that if Matsuzaka is not on owner John Henry's private jet today when it leaves Southern California, there is no chance of a deal getting done, according to a source.
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Fox Sports:
Cardinals still need several more starters — The Winter Meetings are dead, mourned and buried, but the St. Louis Cardinals still have much work to do. — They may have the World Series trophy, but they don't have a full rotation. That's noteworthy because their options — the serious options …
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Wells done? — The Toronto Blue Jays have one of those adult decisions to make, 2½ months after finishing 10 games behind the New York Yankees and a game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. — Its name is Vernon Wells. — He is the signature position player for an organization that …
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Kapler retires to become minor league manager — BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler retired Tuesday after nine major league seasons to start a managerial career with the team's Class-A farm team in Greenville, S.C., a move he hopes will lead to big league job.
Discussion:
The Griddle
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Kapler retires, named Class-A skipper
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Houston deals for Colorado's Jennings — The Astros have acquired right-hander Jason Jennings from the Rockies, FOXSports.com has learned. — The Rockies will receive center fielder Willy Taveras and right-handers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz for Jennings and right-hander Miguel Asencio, major-league sources said.
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Art Thiel / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Hard for M's to proclaim upgrade — Rarely one to offer illumination casually, Bill Bavasi used the term "miserable" to describe his experience at baseball's recent winter meetings at Disney World. — You know, the place where the Mariners qualified to become the eighth dwarf.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Mariners, Batista agree to terms
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Analysis: Need for top-end starter not met
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers make room on roster for Mesa — Gomez non-tendered, but could return for Minor League pact — DETROIT — Alexis Gomez became an unlikely Tigers hero in the playoffs after being taken off the roster twice during the regular season. On Tuesday, he made room for a third time this year.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets non-tender Zambrano — Talented, but oft-injured starting pitcher is now a free agent — The Mets regularly had tracked the progress of Victor Zambrano as he rehabbed his surgically-repaired right elbow. They appeared to maintain a level of interest in the pitcher who had been a member …
Miami Herald:
BaseBrawl of champions at TNA event — Catcher A.J. Pierzynski of the 2005 world champion Chicago White Sox picked a fight with World Series MVP David Eckstein of the 2006 world champion St. Louis Cardinals during the TNA pay-per-view Turning Point on Sunday, Dec. 10 from Universal Studios Orlando.
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, $6 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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Geoff Young / Hardball Times:
Taking Advantage of Petco Park — One of the concerns among Padres fans is the team's apparent inability to hit at Petco Park since moving there at the start of the 2004 season. Suggestions on how to remedy this situation have included finding batters who aren't intimidated by the park's dimensions …
