Top News:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Ballot First-Timers Could Keep Repeaters Out of Hall of Fame — Conventional wisdom doesn't have a vote, but it says that Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn will be elected to the Hall of Fame this week. History says that no one else will be. — Of the 20 players elected in the past 14 years …
RELATED:
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Taking a Pass On McGwire — For the first time, I've met a baseball question that is such a karmic train wreck, such a total mess and so unfair to everybody involved that I am proud to say I have no opinion. For now, the least rotten position to take on whether Mark McGwire deserves to be in the Hall of Fame is no position at all.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
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 …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Nats Triple Play, William F. Yurasko, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Rumors and MLB Trade Rumors
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Estes agrees to deal with Padres — UNION-TRIBUNE FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS — The Padres may have found a No. 5 starting pitcher - provided they can wait until roughly the All-Star break. — Left-hander Shawn Estes, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in his first start April 5 …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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 …
RELATED:
Rex Immensae Majestatis Chapman / WIZZNUTZZ:
Exclusive Arenas Express Soiree Incites!! — PRELUDE A LA NUIT D'UN INTERNE — The invitiation turned up at Wizznutzz Central a couple days before the party. Like a good intern, I swiped it. Strindberg can have his own shindig with a black silk handkerchief and an album of Grieg's Lyric Pieces …
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.
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.
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
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.
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Pineiro: Start to finish — Joel Pineiro was disappointed and close to distraught when the Seattle Mariners removed the struggling pitcher from the starting rotation last August and demoted him to the bullpen. — Little did the right-hander know that the humiliation would ultimately result in a promotion …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
RELATED:
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
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 …
