Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Major league left-hander Joe Kennedy dies … Major league pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday morning while at home with his family in Florida, agent Damon Lapa confirmed to ESPN.com. — The cause of Kennedy's death could not immediately be determined, Lapa said.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Joe Kennedy dies at 28 — FOXSports.com, Updated 11 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — Pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday, according to a major-league source. — Kennedy, 28, spent seven years in the majors, pitching for the A's, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays last season.
Discussion:
The Heater, Jays Nest, Where have you gone …, FanHouse, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Babes Love Baseball and River Ave. Blues
Associated Press:
MLB pitcher Joe Kennedy dies at 28 — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Joe Kennedy, a journeyman left-hander who pitched for three major league teams last season, died at his in-laws' home Friday. He was 28. — After going to bed early, Kennedy woke up at about 1:15 a.m. Friday and collapsed …
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Free agent pitcher Kennedy dies — Left-hander won 43 games for five teams in seven seasons — Free agent left-hander Joe Kennedy arrived at Spring Training with the A's in February having shed 20-plus pounds in anticipation of what he called the biggest year of his seven-year career …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Reds talking to closer Cordero — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Cincinnati Reds, moving toward the first big acquisition of the Dusty Baker era, are in serious talks with free-agent closer Francisco Cordero, major-league sources say. — Cordero is still talking to three clubs …
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Source: Reds, closer Cordero agree to $46M deal — The Cincinnati Reds have reached preliminary agreement on a four-year, $46 million contract with closer Francisco Cordero, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com. — The deal, which includes a club option for a fifth year, is subject to Cordero passing a physical exam.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers lose Cordero sweepstakes — Closer agrees to deal with Reds, leaves void in bullpen — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers swung and missed on Francisco Cordero, and suddenly find themselves with a void at the back end of the bullpen. — Cordero, who set a franchise record with 44 saves …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals 'move on' after Hunter signs with Angels — Outfielder Jose Guillen now becomes the indisputable No. 1 on the Royals' list of off-season targets following Torii Hunter's decision late Wednesday to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. — The Royals have long viewed Hunter and Guillen …
RELATED:
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Yabuta, Royals appear close to deal — Impending physical final hurdle to bring pitcher to U.S. — KANSAS CITY — Right-handed reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta is about to leave Japan for Kansas City. Whether the move will be permanent or not is still in question.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:Texas Rangers' Hicks 'surprised' by Hunter's pick
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Bill Baer / crashburnalley.com:
Conlin's Losing Numbers [UPDATED TWICE: See end] — As you might recall from late August, I picked on Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News for his close-minded and immature diatribe against proponents of Sabermetrics in baseball. — I've found another target.
RELATED:
Leitch / Deadspin:
Bill Conlin Probably Just Shouldn't Use Email At All [Bill Conlin] — At this point, the worst thing a "mainstream" reporter can do is make one of those dumb "I hate bloggers" comments. There's no upside to it; even if they're still an excellent reporter, they come across as crotchety, anachronistic and old.
Joe / Around the Majors:
New Santana details emerge — The five-year, $93 million contract the Twins recently offered Johan Santana would only have kept him with the team through 2012, the Star Tribune has learned. — Santana is owed $13.25 million for next season in the final year of his four-year, $39.75 million contract.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Hunter probably not the last piece — Even after giving the Gold Glove center fielder a $90-million deal, the Angels figure to go after Cabrera or Tejada. — Not only did the Angels snag the most coveted free agent on the market when they agreed to terms with center fielder Torii Hunter on a five-year …
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Top-notch arms are in short supply — LIKE THIS STORY? — Name a team — any team — and they're probably scrambling for starting pitching. — Whether their teams truly need it or not, baseball executives are forever in search of capable hurlers. In baseball terms, pitching is like money: You can never have enough of it.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
