Top News:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Arbitration process begins for Mets and Yankees — Major League Baseball's teams and players exchanged salary figures in the arbitration process Friday, and it's clear that the two New York clubs have significant work to do if they want to avoid taking key players to a hearing.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Arbitration figures for the unsigned Yankees — Here are the arbitration figures that were submitted today: — Brian Bruney submitted $845,000, the Yankees submittted $640,000. — Robinson Cano submitted $4.55 million, the Yankees submitted $3.2 million.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks begin arbitration process — Figures exchanged with Wang, Cano, Bruney; Betemit signs — NEW YORK — The Yankees set grounds for salary arbitration with three of their players on Friday, while avoiding the process completely by agreeing to a one-year contract with Wilson Betemit.
Discussion:
Bronx Liaison
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Talks stall on trade for Roberts — With less than four weeks left before pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Cubs are still pushing hard to add players, but their long-running efforts to make a deal with the Baltimore Orioles may have hit a dead end.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Source: Byrd piques Cubs' interest — Center fielder could be traded after Hamilton's acquisition — ARLINGTON — The Rangers may have finished putting together their team for Spring Training, but that hasn't stopped other teams from asking about their players.
Duff Wilson / New York Times:
Clemens to Testify Under Oath — Roger Clemens will go to Capitol Hill on Jan. 26 to answer questions from staff members for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Clemens's lawyer said Friday, setting the stage for a possible perjury showdown against the former trainer …
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iYankees
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ESPN.com:
D.C. dates set for Clemens, McNamee depositions — WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens has been asked to meet with congressional committee staff on Jan. 26, ahead of the House hearing where he and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, have been invited to testify. — Letters were sent to Clemens …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets avoid arbitration with Heilman — Righty signs one-year deal; five others remain unsigned — NEW YORK — More gadgets and toys probably will find their way into the Mets' clubhouse this year. Aaron Heilman, the electronics-obsessive pitcher called “Wall Street” by some of Mets teammates …
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MLB.com:
2008 arbitration figures — Listed below are the players who have filed for arbitration and have yet to sign with their teams. Arbitration hearings will be held from Feb. 1-21, at which time a panel will rule in the player's favor or the club's favor, choosing one figure or the other.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays paying it forward … ST. PETERSBURG - By giving more than $24-million over three years to Carlos Pena and going up to nearly $4-million for a one-year, arbitration-avoiding deal with Scott Kazmir, the Rays on Friday put two of their best players under contract for the upcoming season.
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DRaysBay
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros sign Wigginton to one-year deal — Team exchanges arbitration figures with four players — HOUSTON — The Astros avoided arbitration with third baseman Ty Wigginton by signing him to a one-year contract worth $4.35 million, plus incentives, on Friday.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Sports Illustrated:
Steve Aschburner: It's the stats, stupid! — When Bill Clinton first ran for president in 1992, his campaign posted the now-famous slogan “It's the economy, stupid!” in its headquarters to keep the candidate and everyone around him on point about what the electorate truly cared about. And it worked.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Hardy, Bush submit figures — Anderson claimed off waivers; Arctic Tailgate set for Feb. 23 — MILWAUKEE — Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy and right-hander Dave Bush are each seeking about $3 million in arbitration according to figures filed Friday, the day on which eligible players and teams swapped contract proposals.
Discussion:
Brewers Bar
Sports Illustrated:
Lefty specialist Javier Lopez and Red Sox agree to $840,000, 1-year deal — BOSTON (AP) -Lefty specialist Javier Lopez and the Boston Red Sox agreed Friday to an $840,000, one-year contract. — Lopez was 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 40 2-3 innings last season.
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