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9:40 PM ET, December 18, 2006

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Bonderman agrees to $38 million, 4-year contract with Tigers  —  DETROIT (AP) — Pitcher Jeremy Bonderman and the Detroit Tigers agreed Monday to a $38 million, four-year contract.  —  Bonderman, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, gets $4.5 million in 2007 …
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:   Bonderman agrees to four-year deal
Yahoo! Sports:   Tigers, RHP Bonderman agree to four-year contract extension
Cutoff Man:
Tigers extend Bonderman's contract
ESPN:
Radke reportedly to announce retirement at Metrodome  —  Brad Radke reportedly will officially retire at a news conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday, ending his 12-year career with the Twins.  —  According to the Star Tribune, the 34-year-old Radke will offically end his major league career …
RELATED:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins call Radke press conference  —  Pitcher expected to announce retirement after 12 seasons  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have called a 4 p.m. CT press conference for Tuesday, when Brad Radke is expected to officially announce his retirement.  —  The announcement will end …
Discussion: Twinkie Town
StarTribune.com:
Radke will announce retirement Tuesday
Discussion: DRays Bay and Baseball Musings
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates sign Cuban, Japanese pitchers  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates have not been known for having an international flavor, but they signed two starting pitchers from uncommon locales today: Yoslan Herrera, a Cuban defector, and Masumi Kuwata, a Japanese national.
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Pirates sign free agent Yoslan Herrera
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Mets to visit Zito in California on Tuesday  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Mets executives planned to visit Barry Zito in California on Tuesday for a recruiting visit designed to persuade the free-agent pitcher to sign with New York.  —  Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya …
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:   Meet the new boss?  —  Zito, Boras seem likely to get together with Minaya shortly
Contra Costa Times:   Zito not in N.Y. state of mind
NY Daily News:
Mets, Zito get ready to meet
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Former Dodger reliever Sherry dies, was 1959 World Series MVP  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  LOS ANGELES — Larry Sherry, MVP of the 1959 World Series as a reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died after a long battle with cancer.  He was 71.
yomiuri.co.jp:
Igawa, Yanks reach 5-year deal  —  The New York Yankees and Kei Igawa both played second fiddle in the posting sweepstakes.  Igawa, though, got a first-rate deal it was learned on Monday, agreeing to a five-year, 20 million dollars contract with the Bronx Bombers.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Team has a concern about Drew  —  J.D. Drew today will get a second opinion on an undisclosed medical issue the Red Sox have concern about, according to a major league source familiar with Drew's condition.  —  The Sox expressed concern about the issue after the right fielder underwent a physical in Boston last week.
Discussion: The Soxaholix
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox patient on Drew
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:   Report: Drew to get second opinion
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Why let Cirillo go?  —  Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers Brewers fans' questions … I'm furious that Cirillo was "let go" and signed with the Twins.  Right now, this whole offseason seems like a big mess.  I'm sick of the fan favorite being let go just about every year.
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Baseball America:
Going Deep: Lou Piniella  —  We all knew that the Cubs' hiring Lou Piniella as manager meant they were going to go out and get some veteran talent.  But this is ridiculous.  —  As if to reassure Piniella that Chicago was not Tampa Bay, general manager Jim Hendry opened his suddenly bursting checkbook …
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Marcus Giles, Padres closing in on deal  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Free agent second baseman Marcus Giles and the San Diego Padres were closing in on a deal that would allow him to play with his older brother, Brian, on their hometown team.  —  "We're putting in a lot of time and effort to get a deal done …
Max Abelson / New York Observer:
Wright-Sizing Flatiron  —  A Loft Fit for a King-Sized TV!  Mets All-Star Gets $6.5 M. Penthouse  —  The eastern Upper East Side is probably the only neighborhood that beats the Flatiron district (think of all the jocky bars!) for attracting baseball stars.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Trade for Vidro becomes official  —  Mariners plan to use newcomer as designated hitter  —  SEATTLE — After days of speculation, the Mariners officially obtained Jose Vidro from the Washington Nationals on Monday in exchange for outfielder Chris Snelling and pitcher Emiliano Fruto and cash considerations.
Discussion: U.S.S. Mariner
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Is Zito the best free-agent choice?  —  Rangers beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers fans' questions … I like the Gagne signing.  You never have enough arms in the bullpen.  Just a thought, Carlos Zambrano is a free agent next year.  Wouldn't it be a better idea to throw a $100 million contract at him, rather then Barry Zito?
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Dave Hyde / Sun-Sentinel:
Bargains scarce for Marlins  —  Larry Beinfest never thinks about being one of those Richie Rich general managers.  He knows what the Marlins can't do.  They can't stroll down the free-agent shopping aisle and, if they need relievers, just throw a couple in the cart.  —  And that $15 million outfielder?
Discussion: FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Gonzalez enjoying homecoming
Discussion: FishStripes
 
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 More News: 
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Answering the Naysayers (Part Two)
Discussion: Knuckle Curve
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Wells in elite company
Discussion: McCovey Chronicles
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
'07 lineup a challenge for Melvin
 Earlier Picks: 
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Closer closing in on joining Rangers
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
LaRoche rumors just won't stop
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Stopgap center fielder an option for Hendry
Discussion: GROTA
 

 
From WeSmirch:

NHL.com:
Pierce, NHL.com Wild writer, Twin Cities fixture, mourned by hockey world

Amanda Peet / New Yorker:
Amanda Peet on Getting Breast Cancer While Losing Her Parents

Jonathan Dean / The Times:
Paapa Essiedu on his Harry Potter trolls: They say, 'Quit or I'll murder you'

 
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