Top News:
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.
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Rob Bradford / Bradford Files:
Wilkerson in the mix — As was first suggested by MLB Trade Rumors, it has been learned that the Red Sox do have some interest in outfielder/first baseman Brad Wilkerson, although there still figures to be healthy competition for the free agent. It has been reported that he is asking for a three year deal worth $21 million.
Bleed Cubbie Blue:
2008 Cubs Convention Report - Day 2 — Lou Piniella, Crane Kenney, Jim Hendry and Randy Bush answer questions on Saturday morning. Photo by Al (anyone who wants to take a shot at color-correcting this photo, please do and send it back to me) — It was my question …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
Another year like 99 others for Cubs — According to one headline, this weekend's Cubs Convention was expected to provide a “glimpse of what's on the way." — What would that be? Blood? Pain? Regret? Carlos Zambrano's right arm falling off? Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers' ownership group buying the Cubs?
Discussion:
Siberian Baseball
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 …
Vince Gennaro / Yahoo! Sports:
Santana not worth the tariff — Any contending team in a major market would want Johan Santana to anchor its starting rotation. Yet the Minnesota Twins have not been able to trade the two-time Cy Young award winner despite months-long talks with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and more recently, the New York Mets.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays aim to be destination spot — ST. PETERSBURG - Having spent considerable time and money over the past 27 months trying to make the Rays at least competitive, principal owner Stuart Sternberg took a break from writing checks Friday to acknowledge their progress.
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DRaysBay
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Sarah Rothschild / MiamiHerald.com:
A-Rod turns mentor for UM ballplayer — A UM ballplayer meets his idol — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez — and gets to train with him — New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez is used to being followed by fans. — But one college-age kid who followed Rodriguez around …
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.
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.
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.
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Al's Ramblings
New York Times:
Name of Possible Witness Emerges in an Audiotape — For the past five years, it has been Jim Murray's job to tend to the needs of the New York-area clients of Hendricks Sports Management, the Texas agency that built its name on its representation of Roger Clemens.
Dayn Perry / Fox Sports:
A position-by-position look at MLB's best — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the new book, “Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones” (Available now at Amazon.com). — With pitchers and catchers set to report in less than a month, it's time to start thinking about the 2008 season.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Cano & Wang seek hefty raises; Yanks ink Betemit — The Yankees received bargain-rate production for most of the past three seasons from Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang. — No more. — The youthful Yanks want hefty pay raises more in line with the salaries of many of their veteran teammates in 2008 …
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