Top News:
Associated Press:
Red Sox acquire Donnelly from Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels traded former All-Star reliever Brendan Donnelly to the Boston Red Sox on Friday for rookie left-hander Phil Seibel. — The 35-year-old Donnelly became expendable when the Angels and reliever Justin Speier agreed to an $18 million, four-year contract.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Halo Herald, 6-4-2, Fire Brand of the …, Pearly Gates and Baseball Musings
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John Perrotto / Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times:
Yankees may want Gonzo — If the Pittsburgh Pirates wind up trading closer Mike Gonzalez, it appears the most likely destination for the left-hander is the New York Yankees. — Baseball sources indicated Friday that Yankees are willing to part with left-handed hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera straight-up in a trade for Gonzalez.
Dotcom / Extra Bases:
Sox get Donnelly — The Red Sox today announced that the team has acquired righthanded pitcher Brendan Donnelly from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for lefthanded pitcher Phil Seibel. — The Red Sox released the following details on the announcement:
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Iwamura agrees to $7.7 million, 3-year contract with Devil Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Infielder Akinori Iwamura became the second Japanese star to land in the major leagues in as many days when he agreed Friday to a $7.7 million, three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Iwamura signs three-year deal — Japanese infielder expected to play third base for Rays in '07 — ST. PETERSBURG — Reaching across the Pacific Ocean for help, the Devil Rays signed infielder Akinori Iwamura on Friday to a three-year contract worth $7.7 million, with a club option for a fourth year at $4.25 million.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Creature comforts were worth wait for all concerned — So perhaps there was no other way for this to turn out but as a "joyous day in New England," as Red Sox owner John Henry termed it. — But for anyone who believes it was a foregone conclusion, this celebratory press conference …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Boston Sports Media Watch, Ben Maller's Sports … and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Right down to the wire: Sox almost left empty-handed
Discussion:
Hartford Courant
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Zito is going to strike it rich … Maybe it was the strain of going 48 straight hours without sleep, but Scott Boras sounded less than euphoric after negotiating Daisuke Matsuzaka's six-year, $52 million deal with Boston on Wednesday. — Baseball's most powerful agent found his first big foray …
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Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
PRICE HIGH FOR METS TO IMPROVE BULLPEN — On Wednesday afternoon in Shea Stadium, GM Omar Minaya admitted he still can improve the Met bullpen for 2007. — "Yes we could," Minaya said emphatically. "And we are going to try to improve our bullpen." — Unfortunately, one of the best options …
ESPN:
Bagwell retires owning most Astros hit marks — HOUSTON — Jeff Bagwell retired Friday after 15 years with the Houston Astros, ending a career in which he hit 449 home runs but was forced from the field after the 2005 season because of a shoulder injury. — Along with Craig Biggio …
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MLB.com:
Why Bagwell should be in Hall of Fame — Veteran's numbers stack up with game's best first baseman — HOUSTON — The first time I saw Jeff Bagwell, he was a scrawny 20-year-old third baseman taking ground balls at the Astros' Spring Training complex in Kissimmee, Fla., in 1991.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Brewers pursuing Suppan — Milwaukee continues to search for quality pitching additions — MILWAUKEE — If they can't beat him, they'll try to reel him in. — The Brewers have shown interest in free-agent right-hander Jeff Suppan, but have yet to extend an offer to the career Brewers-killer …
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George King / New York Post:
YANKS MAY GIVE DOUG DEAL — Before the Yankees make Doug Mientkiewicz a contract offer they want to see the medical report from Dr. Robert Watkins who operated on the first baseman's back. — The Yankees, who have experienced back troubles with pitchers Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson lately …
RELATED:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Damon Has Few Regrets as Red Sox Spend Big Again
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
MLB.com:
Cubs and Ted Lilly agree to four-year deal — The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has agreed to a four-year deal with free agent left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly. — Lilly, 30, won a career-best 15 games last season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA …
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Sports Illustrated:
Heart of the matter — Hendry discusses health scare, Cubs spending spree — No general manager in baseball has had an offseason quite like the Cubs' Jim Hendry. Not only has he brokered the biggest free-agent contract since 2001 — a stunning eight-year, $136 million deal for Alfonso Soriano …
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Rob Biertempfel / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Bucs show interest in Pineiro — TRIBUNE-REVIEW — The Pirates are eyeing free-agent right-hander Joel Pineiro as a possible fifth starter for their 2007 rotation. — Pineiro, 28, became a free agent Tuesday when the Mariners did not offer him arbitration.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Gonzalez excited to reunite with Sox — Former Chicago prospect happy to return in deal with Philly — CHICAGO — You're 21 years old. You're a left-handed pitcher, considered by most to be not only one of the top prospects in your respective organization but in all of baseball.
