Top News:
George King / New York Post:
JOE GOES HOLLYWOOD — TORRE AGREES TO MANAGE DODGERS — With Grady Little out of the way in L.A., Joe Torre is the Dodgers' first choice to take over the club. According to sources Torre has agreed in principle to a three-year deal worth $14.5 million and could be introduced tomorrow …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Coaching staff for 2008 — This is not yet official, but it appears the coaching staff will shake out this way: — Pitching: Dave Eiland — Hitting: Kevin Long — Bench: Rob Thomson — Third base: Bobby Meacham — First base/catching: Tony Pena — Bullpen: Mike Harkey
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 …
Los Angeles Times:
Something smells about Little leaving Dodgers — Grady Little says he has his own personal reasons for resigning as Dodgers manager, and here's hoping none of them involve his health or the health of anyone in his family. — GM Ned Colletti says he spent a good deal of time encouraging Little …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:Dodgers may get more than manager — Joe Torre can't pitch or hit …
Mark Hale / New York Post:
POSADA GRABS THE METS' EYE — One intriguing player - and current free agent - the Mets have targeted this offseason is Jorge Posada. — The Mets have interest in Posada, the longtime Yankee catcher who filed for free agency on Monday and who would fill a position of uncertainty for the club.
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John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mets must opt for A-Rod — It seems obvious enough that the Mets need to do something splashy this winter to wash away the psychological stain from their historic collapse and give everyone from their fan base to their players a reason to look forward, not back.
Discussion:
Unfiltered
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets could fit Rodriguez into infield — LIKE THIS STORY? — Now that Alex Rodriguez is a free agent, teams are meeting internally, trying to figure out how they can get him. (Hint: write the biggest check.) — The Angels, who badly need a power hitter, remain an obvious fit.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets leave an opening for A-Rod — Coming up with the money to sign Alex Rodriguez isn't out of the question for the Mets, who have their own TV network and a new stadium going up in 2009. (Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill) — Unlike the Yankees, who noisily slammed the door on Alex Rodriguez this week …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets tell David Wright to keep quiet about A-Rod — David Wright wants to meet with Mets officials to gauge how serious they are about pursuing Alex Rodriguez. About all team brass has told the two-time All-Star so far is to keep quiet. — While Wright has expressed a willingness …
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:Minaya should open Mets' vault for A-Rod
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
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.
Discussion:
ESPN, FanHouse, Bugs & Cranks, The Joy of Sox, Larry Brown Sports, The Daily Fungo, MLB Trade Rumors and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Boston Globe:
Schilling seems headed for exit — Sox, pitcher see a deal as unlikely — Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling filed for free agency yesterday, after telling a radio audience that "there's a very realistic chance I won't ever play" for the team again. — Schilling is probably correct …
Brian McTaggart / Houston Chronicle:
Astros pursue Hunter, Rowand — Preliminary inquiries made with top CFs — Center fielders Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, two of the most attractive free agents on the market, were among more than two dozen players the Astros contacted during the first two days of the free-agent filing period.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers' Perez files for free agency — Pair of suspensions dampened only season in Detroit — Neifi Perez, whose second suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy will carry into next season, is officially a free agent. The former Tigers utility infielder filed on Tuesday.
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Baseball's Drug Testing Lacks Element of Surprise — Major League Baseball, bracing for the results of an internal investigation into steroid use, has continued to employ a drug-testing procedure that may allow players time to mask their use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Associated Press:
Pettitte still mulling Yanks option — HOUSTON (AP) — Pitcher Andy Pettitte isn't ready to say whether he will exercise his option to play for the New York Yankees, but he's certain that if he doesn't play for them he won't play for anyone. — "The New York Yankees committed an awful lot …
