Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:
Matsuzaka wants $11M per year; Sox offering $8M — COSTA MESA, Calif. — Pessimism from both sides of these Daisuke Matsuzaka talks rules the day, or early morning, but talks are not dead and the deadline is still not until Thursday (in case you hadn't heard).
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.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Kapler opts for retirement — Retirement at age 31? Of course, Gabe Kapler said, he expects he'll feel the urge to play when he shows up in Fort Myers next spring. — "I think the likelihood will be there for several years to come, when I say to myself, 'I can still be playing baseball,' " Kapler said.
Jeff Blair / globesports.com:
Jays offer Wells monster contract — Toronto — The Toronto Blue Jays have made a formal contract offer to Vernon Wells that would put the centre fielder comfortably among the top-10 highest-paid players in the major leagues and likely exceed the average annual value of the free-agent deal …
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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 …
Hartford Courant:
Masse In Jays Organization — For Bill Masse, life after the Yankees will begin in New Hampshire. — "I had 13 great years with the Yankees," said Masse, who parted ways with them after the season. "But I've moved on to greener pastures." — On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays hired Masse …
Discussion:
Off the Facade
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 …
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
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets to Zambrano: 'Z' you later — Victor Zambrano's tenure with the Mets may be over. A Mets official said the club intended to let last night's midnight deadline pass without offering Zambrano a contract, making him a free agent. — The Mets did agree to a one-year …
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Pettitte's return to Bronx blessing in disguise for 'Stros — The biggest crock in sports today is the tired "no respect" crutch, and that Andy Pettitte essentially fired it on his hometown Houston Astros while leaving town is both wrong and lame. — We long ago reached critical mass on this subject.
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers look like a winner to Lofton — ARLINGTON — The Rangers lost their center fielder and leadoff hitter when Gary Matthews Jr. signed with the Los Angeles Angels last month. They found a new center fielder and leadoff hitter when they signed Kenny Lofton to a one-year, $6 million contract Tuesday.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers relieved: Gagne on way — ARLINGTON - The Rangers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $6 million with reliever Eric Gagne pending a physical, a source familiar with the negotiations confirmed Tuesday. The contract includes incentives up to $5 million.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
Issues of National Concern — In the midst of the annual free agent frenzy, there are always a few teams that don't get involved. This year is no different. As of press time, there are only three teams that haven't signed a player to a major league contract or made a trade for a major league player …
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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.
