Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox, Lowell keep talking — Lucchino: 'We want him back' … The Red Sox [team stats] continued to speak with representatives for free agent third baseman Mike Lowell yesterday, but team sources said that details about how the talks are proceeding and whether the club is pressing for a resolution are private.
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ESPN:
Reports: Yanks' interest in Lowell as 1B waning — While several media outlets are reporting that the New York Yankees are offering free agent third baseman Mike Lowell a luctrative deal to play first base, it appears the Yankees' interest in the World Series MVP may be waning.
Discussion:
FanHouse
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Lowell honored at Disney parade — World Series MVP enjoys day at Magic Kingdom in Florida — BOSTON — Free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell was able to take a little break from the stress of contract negotiations by serving as the honorary grand marshal in Friday's Disney Dreams Come True parade at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Lowell mulls option(s) — Mike Lowell may be closer to making a decision on whether he'll play for the Red Sox in 2008, but he wasn't letting on when asked about it at Disney World earlier on Friday. — The World Series MVP and his family seemed to have a nice time at Disney World …
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Rogers fires agent Boras — likely signals lefty's return to Tigers — Kenny Rogers fired Scott Boras as his agent Friday, a development that could hasten Rogers' return to the Tigers for the 2008 season. — Rogers is now representing himself, the Tigers confirmed.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Rogers cuts ties with agent Boras — Free agent left-hander will represent himself in negotiations — DETROIT — In an unexpected twist to the offseason saga surrounding both free-agent pitcher Kenny Rogers and agent Scott Boras, Rogers has dismissed Boras and now is representing himself …
Lynn Henning / Detroit News:
Rogers fires agent Boras — Kenny Rogers, whose signing had been an off-season priority for the Tigers, may have moved closer to a 2008 contract with the Tigers Friday when he abruptly fired his high-profile agent, Scott Boras. — Rogers, a 43-year-old left-hander who has won …
ESPN:
Report: Kenny Rogers severs ties to agent Boras — Free-agent pitcher Kenny Rogers abruptly fired his agent Scott Boras and is now representing himself in present contract negotiations, MLB.com reports. — Rogers, who told MLB.com Thursday that he still hoped to re-sign with the Detroit Tigers …
Discussion:
FanHouse
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Astros acquire Villarreal from Braves — Club initiates contact with second baseman Iguchi — HOUSTON — The Astros acquired reliever Oscar Villarreal from Atlanta in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson on Friday in a move to bolster the back end of the bullpen.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets eye David Eckstein — Mets officials dined with free-agent infielder David Eckstein in Greenwich, Conn., this week in the hopes he'll fill the second base vacancy in Flushing. — By employing the same kind of treatment that wooed Billy Wagner and Tom Glavine during previous offseasons …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves may be close to signing Glavine — Original offer worth about $7 million; agent makes counterproposal — Tom Glavine was believed to be close to signing with the Braves after receiving an initial offer from the team Friday and making a counterproposal Friday night.
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:Reunion? Braves offer free-agent Glavine contract
Discussion:
Ya Gotta Believe
Joe Pawlikowski / MLB Trade Rumors:
Miguel Carbera to drop weight — Miguel Cabrera has spoken to LasMayores.com, the Spanish version of MLB.com. Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald relays the information. Apparently, Cabrera is at least saying that he plans to get into better shape this off-season so that he can …
NY Daily News:
Ma Dorothy goes to bat for Derek Jeter — Don't you dare call my son a tax cheat! — Derek Jeter's mother defended him Friday amid allegations he sidestepped state taxes by declaring Florida his home state when he really lives in New York. — "He pays his taxes," Dorothy Jeter told the Daily News.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets never made Paul Lo Duca an offer — Paul Lo Duca's representative wants to make one thing clear: The Mets never, ever made the catcher an offer. Not even for one year at $1 million. — "Paul is disappointed," agent Andrew Mongelluzzi said. "New York is his home. He's real fond of New York.
