Top News:
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers set weekend deadline on Zito — The Rangers have let Barry Zito's agent, Scott Boras, know that they don't plan to wait around all winter waiting for his response. The Rangers want to hear by this weekend whether or not Zito plans to accept their contract offer.
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Make room for Zito — Yanks may eye lefty to replace Big Unit — While the Yankees continued engaging multiple teams in trade talks about Randy Johnson yesterday, they also came up with a possible option to replace him in their starting rotation: Barry Zito.
Discussion:
New York Post
Sports Illustrated:
Yankee ingenuity — Bombers poised to make customary offseason splash — The New York Yankees are a team that will switch plans at a moment's notice, a team that will appear to be lost or losing badly and then will suddenly steal the show. That may be exactly what's happening this offseason.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Trading Unit a big, bad idea — We compare Randy Johnson's Yankees pitching numbers to those of his prime, and we compare his likability to that of the average mammal, and in both cases, the Big Unit falls well short. — Now, it seems as though an avenue has been discovered for New York …
Joseph A. Reaves / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs wary of Johnson's back — At his first news conference as a new member of the New York Yankees, Randy Johnson was asked what he thought he had to prove in spring training. — "That I don't need a walker," Johnson replied. — He was joking about his age. Mind you, that was two years ago.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Pitch for Johnson better from Padres — NEW YORK — The San Diego Padres have made a more attractive offer for Randy Johnson than the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the Yankees will trade Johnson only if they consider it a good baseball move. — "Unless it's a deal (the Yankees) really want …
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Fox Sports:
Yankees should jump on chance to trade Unit — If the rumors are any guide, then the New York Yankees are thinking of trading Randy Johnson and, in order to replace him, making a run at Barry Zito, the last notable free agent left standing. — If the Yankees were able to pull off this tandem of moves …
Associated Press:
Angels will be Hillenbrand's fifth team since '01 — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Free agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Tuesday to a $6.5 million, one-year contract. — Hillenbrand, who split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, gets $6 million next year …
Discussion:
Off the Facade
RELATED:
Ken Peters / Associated Press:Hillenbrand agrees to $6.5 million deal with Angels
Discussion:
Chronicles of the Lads
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tomo Ohka, RH — The deal: Agent said seven teams are talking with him and that Ohka (shoulder) is healthy for spring. Has three 10-win seasons and two 190-inning seasons in career. The Pirates, Mariners and Nationals have interest. — Tony Armas Jr., RH — 2006: 9-12, 5.03 ERA
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Cooper: Rangers prospects worth trading McCarthy — It was Don Cooper's turn to talk White Sox fans off the ledge Tuesday. — The Sox pitching coach fully endorses the offseason moves made by general manager Ken Williams, and added, ''I'm not just kissing the GM's ass.''
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
New owners take control — Soriano's exploits, sale of club, new stadium highlight 2006 — WASHINGTON — Although the Nationals endured a disappointing season that started with a 9-21 record in Spring Training, there were some exciting moments in the 2006 campaign.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
Sal Baxamusa / Hardball Times:
The Memory Remains — We often hear about pitchers setting up batters, changing eye level, throwing pitches out of the zone, pitching backwards, etc. Instinct and reaction are of utmost importance in catching, throwing, and hitting, but pitching is deliberate. First pitch strike? Inside or outside?
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
How Good Is Your #4 Starter? — When pundits talk about a free-agent pitcher, they often refer to him as a "#3 starter" or, say, a "#4 starter for a contender." It's common enough usage that most baseball fans know what that means, or at least know what the pundits are getting at.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Rkubatko / Roch Around the Clock:
Not a creature is stirring — The Yankees apparently are looking to trade Randy Johnson, who just happens to possess a no-trade clause in his contract. He'd probably surrender it for a chance to pitch on the West Coast. He won't be coming to Baltimore. — Just to halt that rumor before it starts.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Keane / The Eddie Kranepool Society:
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY SNY? — So on Christmas Eve I have a house full of family over and after dinner I asked a couple of family members if they want to sneak down to my den and watch TV. "Of course" they say in unison so down we go into my inner sanctum.
Discussion:
LoneStar Mets
