Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
A-Rod to opt out of contract — Boras notifies Yankees of client's free-agent wishes — DENVER — Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned. — Rodriguez's decision means he will become a free agent and be able to negotiate with all clubs.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, Lady At The Bat, The LoHud Yankees Blog, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Bradford Files, Hot Stove New York, On the Yankees beat, Bless You Boys, Amazin' Avenue, YanksBlog.com, MY BASEBALL BIAS, WasWatching.com, Siberian Baseball, Babes Love Baseball, Baseball Musings, Lone Star Ball, Pinstripe Alley and NY Daily News
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New York Times:
For Rodriguez and Yankees, It's All but Over — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who had one of the best statistical seasons in the storied history of the Yankees, opted out of the final three years on his 10-year, $252 million contract Sunday, according to his agent.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod to opt out of contract — Newly crowned Aaron Award winner ends Yankees tenure — NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez has opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Yankees and will become a free agent, likely ending his four-year stay in New York.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
In Opting Out, A-Rod Gets Last Laugh — Anyone who ever doubted that Alex Rodriguez has nerve can now fall silent. No matter how extraordinary he was at Yankee Stadium, the greatest player of his generation was never extraordinary enough to satisfy his leeriest critics …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox are kings of diamond — Another Series title comes with sweep of Rockies — DENVER - When it happened the first time, in 2004, Terry Francona was stricken with temporary amnesia. — "I actually don't remember getting out to the field," the Red Sox manager said of a moment burnished deep in New England memory banks.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Mountain men: Sox are champs — Boston rides four-game sweep to second title in four seasons — DENVER — A scintillating seven-game winning streak that began in Cleveland with the season on the brink of elimination ended Sunday night with the Red Sox mobbing each other in the thin air …
Discussion:
ESPN
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Sox scale peak again … DENVER - Back in 2004, New England cried collective tears of joy when the Red Sox [team stats] brought 86 years of futility to a resounding end, exorcising the restless souls of lost generations that never had the opportunity to see their beloved team win a World Series title.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Lowell named World Series MVP — DENVER —Mike Lowell is much more than some throw-in on a Red Sox trade. He's the World Series MVP. — The steady third baseman capped an outstanding October with a big performance Sunday night, earning MVP honors as Boston finished a four-game sweep with a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Tony Masarotti / Boston Herald:Sox two good to be true — Golden era of titles for team
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Hawkins blasts O's as 'negative' — Rockies contributor calls experience 'bad' — DENVER - In one calendar year, reliever LaTroy Hawkins has gone from an Orioles club stuck in a losing spiral to being a contributor on a Colorado Rockies' World Series team. — The move, he said, probably saved his career.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Rocky Mountain News:
KRIEGER: It was still magic while it lasted — Naturally, it came down to the end. Naturally, the kid Rocks still had the slimmest of chances as the last of the sand slipped through the hourglass. — They were the kings of procrastination. They waited until the last possible moment to inject themselves into the pennant race.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
USA Today:
INSIDE PITCH — The Marlins could plug one of their outfield vacancies by turning to a familiar face. Cliff Floyd, a free agent, said he'd like to finish his career with Florida. — "I would love to come to the Marlins. You know how far we go back," said Floyd, Florida's left fielder from 1997 until July 2002.
Discussion:
FishStripes
George King / New York Post:
JOE HOLLYWOOD — L.A. HOPES TO SIGN TORRE — If divorce proceedings between Grady Little and the Dodgers go the distance, as many expect, The Post has learned Joe Torre has been targeted as the manager to heal a fractured Los Angeles clubhouse. — According to two people with knowledge …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks-Girardi offer set for Monday — Indications are strong that Girardi is the first choice of general manager Brian Cashman, who has been weighing a difficult call for days. Negotiations are expected to go quickly, with the Yankees expected to give Girardi a three-year contract …
