Top News:
Newsday:
Mets, Yorvit talks break down — The Mets' negotiations with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed on Saturday and the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea for next season after all. — The two sides already had agreed on a three-year contract worth $14.4-million and it appeared …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Mets Today, Mets Fever, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Amazin' Avenue, nyfuturestars.com, Shea Nation and The Ropolitans
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Torrealba back in play — Free agent Yorvit Torrealba is back in play, an industry source said today. The Rockies conceded Thursday their catcher was gone when he agreed in principle on a three-year, $14.4 million deal with the New York Mets. — However, there has been a hangup this weekend …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: Torrealba Deal Collapses with Mets — According to Ken Davidoff and David Lennon in Newsday, despite already agreeing to a three-year deal, talks between the Mets and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba 'collapsed' on Saturday, meaning, 'the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea.'
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, The MLB Source, Can't Stop The Bleeding, MetsBlog.com, Hot Foot, Amazin' Avenue and FIRE JOE MORGAN
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Report: Mets targeting Eckstein — Career shortstop would convert to second base in New York — NEW YORK — Thinking — and acting — outside the box, as general manager Omar Minaya says he likes to do, the Mets are pursuing a career shortstop to play second base and provide some of the fire the team lacked last season.
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.
NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi's visit with Mariano Rivera good sign for Yankees — There could be a thaw in the contract negotiations between the Yankees and Mariano Rivera. — Sources familiar with both the club's and the closer's thinking said Friday there were increasing signs that Rivera will accept …
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Reports: Yankees' 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
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Rumors of Drug Use Have Damaged for Decades — Barry Bonds may go to jail if a jury believes he lied about using steroids. Many other players could face suspensions next season if George Mitchell identifies them in his coming investigative report on steroids in baseball.
Discussion:
The Griddle
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.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Bonds and Rose, baseball's modern villains — LIKE THIS STORY? — In baseball, villains are as much a part of the game's history as home runs and strikeouts. — Over the years, you've had superstars who also doubled as racists (Ty Cobb, Cap Anson), game-fixers (Hal Chase, the 1919 White Sox) …
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.
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 …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Plenty of talent available for a reasonable price … One common theme voiced by front-office executives at the GM meetings in Orlando was that the barren free-agent market would generate more trade activity. With that in mind, here are 10 players — currently out of favor or simply out of room …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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.
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.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs interested in free-agent pitchers — Free agency has never been a busy avenue for the Diamondbacks in Josh Byrnes' two years as general manager, and that probably won't be changing anytime soon. — But the Diamondbacks have checked in with the agents of a handful of free-agent pitchers …
