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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Gagne to sign with Brewers — A little more than a week after losing closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday morning were near a contract agreement with veteran reliever Eric Gagne, according to an industry source.
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MLB Rumors, Fox Sports, Beyond the Box Score, Take the 7 Train, Babes Love Baseball, The MLB Source, Al's Ramblings, Brew Crew Ball, Hot Foot, The Griddle and ESPN
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Gagne deal is for one year — As I suspected, I've gotten it confirmed that the Brewers' pending deal with free agent reliever Eric Gagne is for one year, the maximum term general manager Doug Melvin wanted to go. — Amazingly, I've heard the deal might be near $10 million, which is more than I thought the Brewers would spend.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Torres traded, but weighing retirement — Pirates deal reliever to Milwaukee for two relief prospects — Just because Salomon Torres was traded to Milwaukee does not mean he has to go. — Torres, dealt by the Pirates yesterday for relief prospects Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts …
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers have real shot at Gagne — By the sheer process of elimination of other clubs, the Brewers might have become the favorite to sign free-agent closer Eric Gagne. — On Friday, Gagne turned down an offer of salary arbitration by the Boston Red Sox, all but ending his relationship with that club.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Move miffs Torres — Newly acquired reliever might retire — Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said Friday evening that he hoped newly acquired reliever Salomon Torres was not serious when he told a Pittsburgh newspaper that he might retire instead of reporting to the Brewers.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
A's, Padres not out of Bonds running — LIKE THIS STORY? — No lie, I had this conversation with Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, toward the end of the winter meetings. — Borris: "San Diego still interested in (Geoff) Jenkins? — Me: "Yeah, I think so." — Borris: "Check out Barry's numbers next to Jenkins'."
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Fay Vincent / New York Times:
Union-Busting at the Hall of Fame — THE National Baseball Hall of Fame, itself based on the historical error that baseball was invented in Cooperstown, N.Y., has just let one go right through its legs. On Monday, a committee of 12 baseball executives, newspaper reporters and former executives …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Gagne declines offer of arbitration — Decision likely ends right-hander's tenure with Boston — BOSTON — Eric Gagne's brief and frustrating run with the Boston Red Sox likely came to an end on Friday night, when the right-handed reliever declined the club's offer of salary arbitration.
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: Santana Wants to Be On the Mets — ...having talked with a variety of people over the last few days, ranging from those who are connected to the team to people connected to player reps to those who work in media and for teams who are following the negotiations, from what i can gather …
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Maddon already shaping '08 club — ST. PETERSBURG - They've added a closer, a frontline shortstop and a No. 3 starter, but the Rays have more work to do. — In addition to a left-handed hitting outfielder to at least platoon in rightfield, they need a third baseman (for a couple months anyway …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees showing interest in Japanese reliever — The Yankees, searching for affordable bullpen help, met with the representative for Japanese free agent Kazuo Fukumori during the winter meetings in Nashville. — Alan Nero, Fukumori's agent, told Newsday he met with Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman on Wednesday.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Schoeneweis escapes discipline — MLB will not suspend lefty for role in performance-enhancers — NEW YORK — The Mets bullpen has dodged a bullet. Scott Schoeneweis, signed by the Mets in January, will not be disciplined by Major League League baseball for his involvement with performance-enhancing substances.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Hank Steinbrenner: Door still open for Johan Santana to join Yankees — While Hank Steinbrenner acknowledges that he hasn't slammed the door on a potential blockbuster deal for Johan Santana, several possible trade chips the Twins might want are "as close to untouchable as you get," the Yankees' senior vice president said Friday.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs could fit Roberts into plan — NASHVILLE — The latest name to crawl across the Cubs' radar screen is Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts, a two-time All-Star who would cost them a couple of top prospects in return. — General manager Jim Hendry met Tuesday with former Cubs president …
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Cub Town
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