Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
YANKS RE-SIGN CAIRO FOR 1 YEAR — After flirting with Mark Loretta, the Yankees returned to a comfortable, familiar place to secure their utility infielder, re-signing Miguel Cairo for one year at $750,000. — It is a move sure to be met with general appreciation within the Yankee clubhouse since Cairo …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Adding Mientkiewicz Shifts Giambi to D.H. — When Doug Mientkiewicz was a rookie, struggling to stick with the Minnesota Twins, Jason Giambi pulled him aside for a pep talk. Giambi was a star for the Oakland Athletics at the time, and Mientkiewicz did not know him. But the encouragement helped.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals offer contracts to five pitchers — Washington eyes right-handers, depth for starting rotation — WASHINGTON — In need of depth in the starting rotation, the Nationals have offered contracts to right-handers Tony Armas Jr., Ramon Ortiz, Steve Trachsel, Jorge Sosa and Jerome Williams …
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Giants bring back Alou as a special assistant to GM — Former manager will help Sabean with scouting and player development — SAN FRANCISCO - During the final months last season, Felipe Alou bemoaned the drudgery of packing his suitcase for road trips. — "There will come a day I put …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Janie McCauley / Associated Press:Alou returns to Giants as special assistant
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Dallas Morning News:
McGwire gets no Hall pass here — Since receiving my Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, I dragged it all over the country seeking answers on the Mark McGwire vote. — I took it to Key West and my aging free-spirit cousins (read: middle-aged hippies), and we had a lively, animated conversation …
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Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
My Hall of Fame Ballot — Next Tuesday, the Hall of Fame will announce the results of the 2007 BBWAA balloting. Unlike last year, when just one player earned induction and no newly-eligible players made a dent in the voting, this year's voting will certainly honor two first-time eligibles and could see at least one other elected.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Ken Tremendous / FIRE JOE MORGAN:
Special Guest Post! — New York FJM Correspondent America's Sweetheart files this report in re: the Randy Johnson trade (the whole thing, I believe, is non-verbatim, which we normally do not do, but for America's Sweetheart, we at FJM make an exception). — America's Sweetheart writes...
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Lopez nearly here, Gonzalez nearly gone — As free-agent catcher Javy Lopez prepares to join the Rockies, the club is discussing utilityman Luis Gonzalez's potential exit to Japan's Yomiuri Giants. — Lopez is expected to sign Monday, ending the club's winterlong pursuit of the former all-star.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Unit to lead youth movement — The seven degrees of Randy: — The Arizona Diamondbacks trade Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees for Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey, Dioner Navarro and $9 million, thus initiating the Randy-go-'round. — Later that same day, the Diamondbacks trade Navarro …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Murcer back home in Oklahoma — NEW YORK (AP) - Bobby Murcer is back home in Oklahoma and doing well after surgery last week to remove a brain tumor. — The former New York Yankees star was released from a Houston hospital on Sunday evening and spent New Year's Eve in the city with his family, the team said Friday in a statement.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Versatile Hairston returns to Rangers — Utilityman who played six positions last season resigned to the minors — The Rangers sought to fortify their bench Friday by resigning utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Sports Illustrated:
Rewriting history — Selig finally appreciated for his work as commissioner — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who picks up an award or honor almost every other week now, recently was named Sports Executive of the Year by the Sports Business Journal. And no one even thought about snickering.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs close in on deal with Johnson — Moorad, Byrnes have productive talks with Unit's agents — PHOENIX — The D-backs inched closer to reaching an agreement with Randy Johnson on Friday. — Johnson's agents, Barry Meister and Alan Nero, spoke via conference call …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians offer contract to Mulder — Incentives may raise two-year deal to roughly $18 million — CLEVELAND — The Indians entered the offseason with the luxury of having five established starters on board and under contract for '07. — But that isn't stopping the club from pursuing an intriguing name on the free-agent market.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
