Top News:
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Catcher signed by Mets — Colorado, which loses free agent Torrealba, braces for the departure of Matsui as well. — The Denver Post — After losing free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba to the New York Mets on Thursday, the Rockies are bracing for the loss of Kazuo Matsui.
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Are Close to a 3-Year Deal With Torrealba — One of the trademarks of Omar Minaya's three seasons as the Mets general manager has been his relentlessness in the free-agent market. He isolates an area of need, locks onto a player and does not move on until a deal is completed.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:Rockies lose Torrealba
Discussion:
New York Post, It's Mets For Me, Purple Row, GO METS DIE BRAVES, Archie Bunker's Army and ABC 7 Eyewitness News
Dan Lucero / Up in the Rockies:Saying a Fond Farewell to Yorvit
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Barry Bonds is a Ham Sandwich — A grand jury, held open for nearly four years, handed down an indictment yesterday against Barry Bonds for perjury and obstruction. Bonds is accused of lying to a grand jury in the government's case against BALCO, specifically saying that he did not knowingly use steroids …
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ESPN:
Bonds: The path to indictment … Late on the morning of Dec. 4, 2003, Barry Bonds arrived at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco and was ushered into the courthouse by the lead investigator in the BALCO steroids case. Bonds was flanked by his lawyer and a bodyguard …
Discussion:
Giants Cove
Rick Maese / Baltimore Sun:
Case plays out away from sport — After 4 years, sordid tale of baseball and politics has not lost its ugly feel — Barry Bonds was indicted by a federal grand jury for perjury and obstruction of justice, charged with lying about whether he knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
Discussion:
Only Baseball Matters
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:Are Charges Against Bonds Necessary?
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Regan v. Rupert / The Smoking Gun:Barry Bonds Indicted
Discussion:
Fox Sports, McCovey Chronicles, Deadspin, ESPN, Royals Authority, Bugs & Cranks, Siberian Baseball, FanHouse, MLB Trade Rumors, The Big Lead and Home Run Derby
Karla Schuster / Newsday:
Tax dispute could cost Jeter millions — Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, known for making the rounds at the city's hot spots, is on the hot seat with New York State, which says he owes back taxes because he claimed he lived in Florida when he was really a resident of the Big Apple.
Discussion:
Fox News
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NY Daily News:
Taxman: Derek Jeter cheated New York out of millions — Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter cheated New York out of millions in taxes by claiming he lived in Florida when he really was living it up in Manhattan, state officials say. — The tax man is going after the All-Star slugger …
Chris Kline / Baseball America:
Arizona Fall League Top 20 Prospects — That wasn't exactly how things ended up however. — Last year, the league boasted such names as Royals righthander Luke Hochevar, Mets righthanders Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey, as well as Devil Rays righthander Jeff Niemann.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Mariano Rivera holding out for fourth year — Having seen the Yankees hand out a four-year contract to Jorge Posada and a 10-year deal to Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera has apparently decided that three years are not enough for him. — According to sources, the All-Star closer is now demanding …
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Glavine offered contract to return to Braves — The Atlanta Braves offered Tom Glavine a contract Friday, the first attempt to reunite the free agent left-hander with the franchise he broke into the majors with 20 years ago. — Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, said Friday that Glavine would take less money to join the Braves.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Hot Stove: Iguchi to test free agency — Second baseman to try his options after release from Phils — Teams searching for help at second base will have another potential option as Tadahito Iguchi is officially a free agent. — Philadelphia released Iguchi, who batted .301 while filling …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:
Lowell and behold, decision looms … Decision time is coming for Mike Lowell. — Although it is believed that the Red Sox [team stats]' current offer to the third baseman is more lucrative than the three-year, $ 36 million deal first put on the table at the GM meetings last week in Orlando …
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Notes: Izturis' option declined — Veteran shortstop joins free agent market — PITTSBURGH — As expected, the Pirates declined to pick up the 2008 option on Cesar Izturis' contract, officially making the infielder the third member of the 2007 club to file for free agency.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers looking at Rowand — The free-agent center fielder, who grew up in Southern California, hit .309 with 27 home runs and 89 runs batted in for the Phillies last season. — The Dodgers are one of about 10 teams that have had contact with free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand, according to Rowand's agent, Craig Landis.
Neil Best / Watchdog:
YES benches SI's Tom Verducci — Tom Verducci is out as an analyst on YES's "Yankees Hot Stove.'' — Why? His recent, scathing column on SI.com regarding Joe Torre's departure might have had something to do with it. Actually . . . it had pretty much everything to do with it.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Odds and Ends: Kendall, Matsui, Fukumori — Here are some non A-Rod/Lowell rumors from today... - MLB.com's Adam McCalvy says the Brewers are interested in Jason Kendall. Kendall is somehow seeking a two-year deal. The Rockies are in on him as well. The Brewers still have Johnny Estrada, but they're not happy with him.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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