Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Steroid Cloud Stops McGwire From Entering Hall — Cal Ripken was the ironman who played in 2,632 consecutive games, Tony Gwynn was the hitting machine who won eight batting titles, and yesterday both were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in near-unanimous votes.
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Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Hall door opens slightly: Rice still on outside; Ripken, Gwynn get in — Number 14 was always synonymous with Jim Rice, who wore it on the back of his uniform throughout a memorable Red Sox [team stats] career. After he fell short for the 13th consecutive year in a bid to be enshrined …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
No good reason for voters' capriciousness … Here's what we know, now that the results are in from one of the most fascinating Hall of Fame elections ever held: — • Mark McGwire is so far from Cooperstown, he could get there faster riding a pack mule than he could by having the baseball writers elect him.
Jack Curry / New York Times:Two Elected to Hall of Fame; McGwire Misses
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily:Ripken and Gwynn Are In — From the official Baseball Hall of Fame press release:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:The Hall call arrives for Gwynn, Ripken
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, The Weblog That Derek Built, Sports Scope, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, The Crawfish Boxes, Seattle Marinerds, YanksBlog.com, The Cub Reporter, Ducksnorts, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Knuckle Curve, San Diego Union-Tribune, Batter's Box Interactive …, South Side Sox and Mack Avenue Tigers
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals await Mulder's decision — The Cardinals could learn as early as today whether free agent lefthander Mark Mulder will accept their modified two-year proposal potentially worth about $18 million. — General manager Walt Jocketty met with Mulder and agent Gregg Clifton in Scottsdale …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Mulder expected to make decision soon — Rangers are among three teams in the running for pitcher — The Rangers should know today or Thursday where free-agent pitcher Mark Mulder will play the next two seasons. — Mulder's agent, Gregg Clifton, said the 29-year-old has all the information …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies sign Javy Lopez — Signing strengthens competition at catcher — In the Rockies, Javy Lopez saw an opportunity. In Lopez, the Rockies saw someone who has faced adversity. — Lopez's desire to revive his career led Colorado to sign the veteran catcher Tuesday …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Edmonds has surgery on foot, shoulder — The club confirmed center fielder Jim Edmonds had surgery on his left foot last Friday. Edmonds, who signed a two-year extension with the club in November, is also recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery that team medical supervisor …
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NY Daily News:
Maine gets a head start — In previous winters, John Maine would have agonized over the Mets' pursuit of various big-name pitchers. Would the possibility of a new star coming to Shea mean Maine would be bumped out of a place in the rotation? — By his own admission, Maine has a track record of fretting over such things.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
MLB.com:
Giants sign free-agent pitcher Russ Ortiz — SAN FRANCISCO — Adding a veteran arm in the form of a familiar face, the San Francisco Giants have signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Russ Ortiz to a one-year contract for the 2007 season, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today.
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Associated Press:
Ortiz agrees to one-year deal with Giants — SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants might have found their fifth starter in the former ace of their staff, right-hander Russ Ortiz. — Ortiz agreed to a $380,000, one-year contract Tuesday to rejoin the Giants five seasons after helping the club reach the 2002 World Series.
Baltimore Sun:
Sun interview with Cal Ripken Jr. … Cal Ripken Jr. recently visited The Sun for a wide-ranging question-and-answer session to discuss the Hall of Fame and other matters related to his career. He was interviewed by Sun staff members Dan Connolly, John Eisenberg, Peter Schmuck and Childs Walker.
MLB.com:
Cubs invite 11 more to big league camp — The Chicago Cubs today announced that 11 additional players have been invited to Big League camp with the club. Pitchers Sean Gallagher, Adam Harben, Ryan O'Malley, Carmen Pignatiello and Randy Wells will report to Fitch Park in Mesa, Ariz. …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Young stepping up offseason workouts — All-Star shortstop in Texas working with hitting coach Jaramillo — ARLINGTON — Spring Training is still over a month away, but on a cold January morning, the hands and wrists were still as quick as ever, and Michael Young was smacking the baseball all over the Rangers' indoor batting cage.
Associated Press:
Blue Jays agree to deals with Thomson, Frasor — TORONTO — Right-handers Jason Frasor and John Thomson agreed to one-year contracts with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. — Frasor was 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA in 51 relief appearances last season, splitting time between Toronto and Triple-A Syracuse.
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