Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Dodgers, Torre agree on three-year deal — The Dodgers and Joe Torre have agreed on a three-year deal worth close to $15 million. Torre could be introduced in Los Angeles as soon as Thursday. — This process was started several day ago. A preliminary agreement was reached on Monday …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Girardi's the right man for the job — By turning the club over to a much younger manager in Joe Girardi and giving him a three-year deal, the Yankees have created a situation in which the manager's incentives more closely reflect the long-term goals of the club, which revolve around young pitchers.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
Dodgers manager Little resigns, no word on Torre — Stark: Little Treated Unfairly By Dodgers — All the talk was about Joe Torre managing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Only problem was Grady Little was still the manager. — That's not a problem anymore. Little announced on Tuesday night that he was resigning as manager.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Girardi Takes First Step Toward a New Legacy — All along, it was going to take an extraordinary candidate to make the Yankees say no to Don Mattingly as their next manager. Mattingly is probably the most beloved Yankee of the last 25 years, and his passion and knowledge of the game are unquestioned.
Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
Free Agency? Weird. — Hard to believe that after 21 years in professional baseball, the first day of free agency would come when I was 40 years old. I've not been a free agent for one day of my career before today...... Filing for free agency is weird. I never knew or thought about how it happened.
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Minaya should open Mets' vault for A-Rod — Alex Rodriguez, right, sits in the stands at Shea Stadium with agent Scott Boras during the 2000 World Series. The Mets failed to sign Rodriguez when he was a free agent that winter. (Newsday / David L. Pokress)
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
RELATED:
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros interested in Hunter, Rowand — General manager Wade confirms contacting players' agents — HOUSTON — The free-agent filing period officially began on Monday, and already, clubs are contacting agents while laying the groundwork for their offseason plans.
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
MO MEETING WITH YANKS TODAY — A deal to bring Mariano Rivera back to the Bronx may be in the works, as the All-Star closer and his agent are meeting with the Yankees today at Legends Field. — Fernando Cuza, who represents Rivera, showed up at the Yankees' spring ballpark around 11:45 a.m., accompanied by two of his associates.
RELATED:
Todd Jones / Sporting News:
What comes to mind when facing Manny and Papi? Duck! — Not since Batman and Robin have two people coexisted better than David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. — Manny is a big kid. He watches cartoons and has these childlike traits that can drive some crazy. Big Papi is the big superstar and loves it.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Holliday, others uncertain as business season begins — If only Matt Holliday could live in that snapshot. The night the Rockies clinched the National League Championship Series, he's wearing a smile and swimming goggles, his face splashed with champagne. — The Rockies were in the World Series.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, SILive, FanHouse, MLB Trade Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Mets Fever, Hot Foot and FishStripes
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Sweeney, Riske become free agents — Royals may be interested in re-signing team captain, reliever — KANSAS CITY — Designated hitter Mike Sweeney and pitcher David Riske, two players the Royals might be interested in retaining, filed for free agency on Tuesday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Shelby named O's first base coach — Trembley calls on member of 1983 World Series team to fill one of two remaining vacancies — Orioles manager Dave Trembley today hired John Shelby to be the team's first base coach, calling on the organization's successful past to fill one of two remaining vacancies on his staff.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Fasano files for free agency — Veteran catcher still may return to Blue Jays — TORONTO — Adding depth behind the plate is a goal this winter for the Blue Jays, and Sal Fasano helped provide just that during this past season. On Tuesday, the veteran catcher filed for free agency …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox decline Erstad, Myers options — Outfielder, reliever officially file for free agency — CHICAGO — The White Sox declined club options on both outfielder/first baseman Darin Erstad and left-handed reliever Mike Myers, with both veterans officially filing for free agency on Tuesday.
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
King of the mound, lord of the dance — Perhaps the most fun running subplot of the Red Sox charge through the playoffs became the dancing antics of All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. — Papelbon delighted fans after the Sox clinched a playoff berth in the regular season by doing an Irish jig …
Discussion:
Cursed To First
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers decline options on two players — Contracts of Lieberthal, Martinez not picked up for 2008 — LOS ANGELES — Grady Little wasn't the only Dodger parting company with the club on Tuesday. — Management declined the options of backup catcher Mike Lieberthal and utility infielder Ramon Martinez.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
