Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
Yanks, Cano talk long-term deal — The Yankees and star second baseman Robinson Cano are in serious negotiations on a deal that could keep him in pinstripes for up to six years, SI.com has confirmed. — The contract being discussed would pay Cano a guaranteed $30 million over the next four years …
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Associated Press:
Cano, Yankees close in on four-year, $30M deal — NEW YORK — Robinson Cano and the New York Yankees were nearing agreement Thursday on a $30 million, four-year contract, a departure from the team's stance against giving multiyear contracts to young players.
La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Between a rock and a hard place — The Twins don't want to bring Santana to spring training amidst all of this uncertainty but they also must try to maximize trade value. — Johan Santana will not be at TwinsFest this weekend, but one wonders if Santana will be in Fort Myers, Fla. …
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox' Henry delivers hard sell … Fenway Park isn't getting any younger and that will not help the Red Sox [team stats] compete on the revenue front with the Yankees and Mets in the years to come, team owner John Henry pointed out yesterday. — The final payroll information regarding …
Associated Press:
RHP Soriano, Braves agree to 2-year, $9M deal — ATLANTA (AP) - Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday to a $9 million, two-year contract that avoided arbitration. — The Braves plan to make Soriano their closer this season.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Three weeks until it begins anew — It might not feel like it to most of you out there across North America, but winter as we baseball hacks know it is quickly fading. Seems hard to believe, but it's just three weeks until we relocate to Dark Star for six weeks of painful wakeup calls …
ESPN:
Wright: Lo Duca deserves penalties if report true — David Wright's feelings about players' use of peformance-enhancing drugs are firm — even when it comes to good friend Paul Lo Duca's connection to the Mitchell report. — The New York Mets third baseman said Wednesday that his former teammate deserves …
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Ben Badler / Baseball America Prospects Blog:
Fastball 101: Bringing The Heat — Pitchers with premium velocity have an advantage because their heat gives themselves a bit more margin for error. A quicker fastball has a better chance of missing bats, keeping the ball out of play and leading to more strikeouts.
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays sign catcher Barajas — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Rod Barajas worth $1.2 million with an option for 2009. — Barajas, 32, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. — In 48 games, he posted a .230 average with four home runs and 10 RBI.
Roch Kubatko / Roch Around the Clock:
Forward (and backward) thinking — In the palindrome game from an earlier entry, I challenged readers to list eight players whose last names are the same forward as backward. I omitted Tampa Bay pitcher Juan Salas, who came up as Salaz, so make that nine names.
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ESPN:
Chat with Keith Law — Welcome to The Show! On Thursday, Scouts, Inc. senior baseball analyst, Keith Law, will stop by to talk some baseball. — Keith was formerly the special assistant to the general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays and has a wealth of knowledge for you to tap into.
USA Today:
The biggest winners and losers during the offseason — The Minnesota Twins will hold their annual banquet tonight, but instead of a celebration, it may be a memorial. — The team will honor more absentee players tonight than players on its current roster.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
A Long Struggle To Get Back Up And Running — 16 Months After Breaking Leg, Nats' Johnson Is Ready to Battle for the Job at First Base — SACRAMENTO — It is 8:40 a.m., and the sun is just beginning to bake through the windows of a gym that sits anonymously in a business park on the edge of California's capital city.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Anderson's desires well known — Outfielder hopes for playing time, with White Sox or via trade — CHICAGO — Brian Anderson won't be in attendance at SoxFest this weekend, and if he gets his ultimate wish, Anderson won't be with the White Sox when Spring Training begins in February.
