Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Some friendly suggestions for Matsuzaka — An open letter to Daisuke Matsuzaka: — Dear, Dice-K (OK if we call you Dice-K? Or would you rather D-Mat or Dice Man?), — Welcome to Boston. Thought you might like to know a little about your new workplace.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, Boston Sports Media Watch, Hartford Courant and Sports Frog
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Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:The Big Heist — The Boston Red Sox and Diasuke Matsuzaka …
Discussion:
Pending Pinstripes
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Wells about to sign $126-million extension — In one of the bigger upsets of the off-season, the Blue Jays are on the verge of signing center fielder Vernon Wells to a seven-year, $126 million contract extension. — An agreement between the Jays and Wells is close, according to major-league sources.
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Mets think Zito should join a winner — NEW YORK — Barry Zito already has gotten the tour of Arlington from the Texas Rangers and even more important in the world of his agent, Scott Boras, an offer that is believed to float near $100 million. — David Wright, dressed as Santa Claus …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Endy's NLCS catch nets TYIB award — Outfielder leaped over left-field wall in Game 7 to rob Rolen — The baseball left Scott Rolen's bat and was headed for Detroit. It passed over left field at Shea Stadium in a New York second and over the left-field wall, as well.
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Dean Chiungos / MLB.com:
MLB.com hands out TYIB Awards — More than six million fans voted to choose 11 winners — The fans have spoken, the votes have been tallied and no recounts will be necessary. — The winners for the fifth annual This Year in Baseball Awards were announced live on MLB.com Thursday, headlined by a host of new and familiar names.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Hot Stove: D-Mat done; moves remain — Red Sox drama over, focus shifts to other deals in the works — The Daisuke Matsuzaka situation was officially resolved Thursday as the right-hander signed a six-year deal with Boston, but there were also other Hot Stove items of note as Washington closed …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Could Cal Ripken become Orioles owner? — The latest talks between former Baltimore great Cal Ripken and Orioles owner Peter Angelos about the future of the club involve a new wrinkle. — The two are discussing a gradual transfer of ownership from Angelos to a group that would include Ripken, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Joe Stinebaker / Associated Press:
Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell retiring — HOUSTON —Jeff Bagwell, the face of Houston baseball for a generation with teammate Craig Biggio, will retire Friday after 15 years with the team. — The four-time All Star will remain with the Astros as part of a personal-services agreement reached …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
USA Today:
Braves pass on Giles; Jones may be next — The Atlanta Braves, who discovered this fall what it's like to be sitting home in October, also are feeling the pain of trying to hang with the big boys in the free-agent marketplace. — The Braves, saying Tuesday they didn't have the finances …
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Jeff Pearlman / ESPN:
The light beyond Rocker — For seven years, I have done my best to take the high road. — When, after my initial profile of John Rocker appeared in the Dec. 23, 1999, issue of Sports Illustrated, there were literally hundreds of interview requests from print, radio and TV. I turned them down.
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Club makes contract offer to second baseman Giles — General Manager Kevin Towers said he made a contractual offer yesterday to second baseman Marcus Giles, the former Braves regular who became a free agent on Tuesday night. The proposal is believed to be worth $3 million to $4 million.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors, 6-4-2, It's Outta Here! and Ben Maller's Sports …
Baseball America:
Organization Of The Year: Los Angeles Dodgers — Heading into 2006, the Dodgers had the best farm system in baseball. — And while most of their prized prospects were still considered at least a year away, Los Angeles reaped the benefits of its talented system faster than it originally envisioned.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Yankees: Considering pitchers Reitsma and Pineiro — NEW YORK — In their unending search for pitching depth, the Yankees are believed to have interest in right-handers Chris Reitsma and Joel Pineiro, who became free agents this week when their previous teams declined to tender a contact.
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MLB.com:
Pirates sign nine minor league free agents — The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed the following nine players to minor league contracts with an invitation to major league spring training camp. — RHP John Wasdin - Spent the 2006 season in the Texas organization...Went 3-3 with a 2.00 ERA …
Mike Downey / Chicago Tribune:
High time for Dawson — Ex Cub's Hall credentials superior to McGwire's — I told a pollster from The Associated Press that, yes, I will be voting for Mark McGwire for baseball's Hall of Fame. — Circumstantial evidence is not proof, I maintained on a radio talk show. Show me a smoking gun.
Discussion:
GROTA
Associated Press:
Yanks prospect suspended 50 games — NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees pitching prospect Hector Noesi was suspended Thursday for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance under baseball's minor league drug program.
