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:
Halo Herald, Halos Heaven, 6-4-2, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, 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.
Rob Gillies / Associated Press:
Wells and Blue Jays agree to $126 million, 7-year extension — TORONTO (AP) — All-Star center fielder Vernon Wells and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed Friday night to a $126 million, seven-year contract extension through 2014, the sixth-largest deal in baseball history. — "How can you not be happy?"
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Melky headed to Braves? — Yanks discussing three-way deal that would import Gonzalez — In an effort to upgrade their bullpen, the Yankees have discussed a three-way trade with Pittsburgh and Atlanta, the basics of which would send Melky Cabrera to the Braves, bring Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez …
Los Angeles Times:
Angels not pursuing pitcher Zito — General Manager Bill Stoneman all but confirmed Friday that the Angels were not pursuing free-agent left-hander Barry Zito, a development that would seem to put a crimp in the team's efforts to land a proven power hitter.
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
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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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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 …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Associated Press:
Buck O'Neil awarded Medal of Freedom — WASHINGTON - Buck O'Neil was posthumously awarded the nation's highest civil honor Friday, cited for a life in baseball after being barred from the national pastime in his prime. — The Negro Leagues player, historian and advocate was honored …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Talks progressing on new Marlins' home — MLB helping team secure funding for stadium in South Florida — MIAMI — If no news is good news, then this was an encouraging week for the Marlins' stadium effort. — Earlier this week, Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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 Sports Media Watch, Ben Maller's Sports …, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Boston Herald
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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 …
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.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Bucco Blog:
Bucco Blog Suggests.. — The Rangers are asking for a young, MLB ready, back of the order starter for closer Akinori Otsuka. By all indications, they are going to get their asking price too. — Let's compare Mike Gonzalez to Otsuka: — Otsuka projects to lose half his value …
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Mantle Novel Blurs the Lines — In "7: The Mickey Mantle Novel," a comic, wild, sad and salacious reimagining of the late Yankee's life, Peter Golenbock has taken a calculated risk: that fans will want to hear fictional, profane, smutty and yet plausible stories about Mantle's sex life.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
