Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Royals, Tomko agree to one-year deal … The Kansas City Royals have reached preliminary agreement on a one-year, guaranteed $3 million contract with free-agent pitcher Brett Tomko, a baseball source said. — The deal, which includes an additional $1.5 million in incentives …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Friend says Pettitte wasn't pals with Clemens — A mutual friend of Roger Clemens, left, and Andy Pettitte, right, says the two were never as close as the media made them out to be. (AP Photo) — Andy Pettitte is said by friends to be upset with Roger Clemens because of Clemens' aggressive defense …
RELATED:
Fragile Freddy / Fragile Freddy's:
Sunday Notes — This week the story came out that Juan Encarnacion was not expected to play in 2008. This came as no real surprise but it is still a true shame. If you don't recall the injury it happened when a foul ball off the bat of Aaron Miles (thanks Rotoworld!) fractured his left orbital bone on August 31st.
RELATED:
Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
How Many Times Has Jeter Helped The Yanks Reach October? — Fragile Freddy's blog notes the following on Derek Jeter: … This got me thinking. So, I took Dave Studeman's Historical Win Shares File and calculated Jeter's Win Shares Above Average (WSAA), from 1996 to 2007.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Spiezio speaks out through music — Addresses depression and chemical dependency on album — ST. LOUIS — Scott Spiezio apologized that he can't tell more, not yet. He hopes that one day he'll be able to tell the whole story of the sickness that consumed him during the 2007 season.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Historic Tulo pact getting closer — Only the ironing out of small details stands in the way of a historic contract with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. — In a deal first reported in The Denver Post, the Rockies and Tulowitzki have agreed to the parameters of a six-year …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Interested In Brad Wilkerson — Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald was able to confirm our rumor from yesterday, that the Red Sox have some interest in Brad Wilkerson. Bradford says Wilkerson, a Boras client, is looking for three years and $21MM. I don't think the Sox would go anywhere near that price.
Discussion:
iYankees, Yankees Muse, WasWatching.com, River Ave. Blues, Yanksfan vs Soxfan and Yankee GM Blog
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers agree on one-year deal with Proctor — Team avoids arbitration by coming to terms on a contract worth more than $1.1 million with the veteran right-handed reliever. Only left-hander Joe Beimel is now eligible for arbitration. — Right-handed pitcher Scott Proctor …
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Associated Press:
Official: No quick sale for the Cubs — CHICAGO (AP) — The drawn-out process of Tribune Co. selling the Chicago Cubs may not end until midseason or later, the team's senior vice president said Sunday, in part because Wrigley Field first must be sold off. — Crane Kenney told attendees …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
NY Daily News:
Selig makes lots of dollars and even some sense — When the Lords of Baseball ousted Fay Vincent as their commissioner in September of 1992, and declared in unison “This Bud's for us!” they left unsaid “until death do us part,” for Bud Selig apparently can remain in power as long as he wants.
Bleed Cubbie Blue:
2008 Cubs Convention Report - Day 2 — Lou Piniella, Crane Kenney, Jim Hendry and Randy Bush answer questions on Saturday morning. Standing at right is WGN radio's Dave Eanet. Photo by Al (anyone who wants to take a shot at color-correcting this photo, please do and send it back to me) …
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Every Given Sunday — Reconstruction in Slow Motion — A quick glance at the Pittsburgh Pirates' roster might make it seem as though Neal Huntington has been asleep at the wheel in nearly four months on the job as general manager. The Pirates have only seven players on their 40-man roster …
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Notes: A's, Gaudin swap figures — Club, rehabbing right-hander may head to arbitration — OAKLAND — Though the A's agreed to terms for 2008 with closer Huston Street and starter Joe Blanton before arbitration numbers were exchanged, the club and starter Chad Guadin put their numbers on the table Friday.
Discussion:
Catfish Stew
JSOnline:
Brewers like Gwynn, but not as a full-time player just yet — Before, during and after Doug Melvin's successful pursuit of free agent Mike Cameron, some fans were asking why the Milwaukee Brewers general manager was unwilling to commit to young Tony Gwynn Jr. in center field in 2008.
