Top News:
Roch Kubatko / Roch Around the Clock:
Bedard/Jones — For a slow-moving offseason in Baltimore, there never seems to be a dull moment. Now we have the Adam Jones drama unfolding before our eyes, and it's been quite a ride over the last 13 hours or so. — At this point in the morning, there isn't much to add …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Sports Illustrated:Leaving the nest? — Mariners, Orioles still discussing Bedard blockbuster
Discussion:
ESPN.com, Oriole Post, Peter's Red Sox Forever, iYankees, MLB Trade Rumors and MetsBlog.com
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Big week ahead.. — After speaking with officials over the weekend at TwinsFest, it looks like the Twins want to get a Johan Santana trade done this week or begin preparing for his arrival at spring training. — We really won't know if the Twins waited too long to trade Santana until a deal is made.
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Sid Hartman / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins' contract offer to Santana still stands — The team remains willing to pay its ace pitcher $20 million per year over four seasons, but he also could be traded at any moment. — Rob Antony, the Twins assistant general manager who negotiated the new multiyear contracts …
La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins may soon ask, ‘Is this the final offer?’ — Indications from Twins officials are that this is a critical week in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. — The club has not set any hard deadlines yet but may soon tell the teams most interested in Santana — the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox …
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, Philliesflow.com, Bronx Liaison, SOX & Dawgs, My Pinstripes, FakeTeams, River Ave. Blues, iYankees and MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:Mets could get Santana within 10 days
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Babes Love Baseball, Mets Fever and SOX & Dawgs
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Clemens' Agent Releases Report — NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Clemens' agent released an 18,000-word statistical report Monday to refute allegations that the pitcher's career rebounded around the time period he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. — “Clemens' longevity was due …
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Joy of Sox, Baseball Digest Daily, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, MY BASEBALL BIAS and ShysterBall
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Clemens Report — The Hendricks Brothers, agents for Roger Clemens, released a statistical report showing that Roger's longevity was due to adjustments, not steroids. Unfortunately, the AP does not link to the report. Has anyone seen it? — Update: The Boston Globe provides the link.
Discussion:
ShysterBall, Diamond Hoggers, SportsJustice, NJ.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Sliding Into Home
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
DAVID CONE TO RETURN TO YANKEES IN YES BOOTH — David Cone has made peace with the Yankees and will return this year to broadcast about 50 games on YES, The Post has learned. — A key pitcher and leader on Joe Torre's championship Yankees, Cone had annoyed George Steinbrenner by returning …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Lo Duca Scheduled for Knee Surgery, but Will Meet With Nats' Doctor — Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca is scheduled to have surgery this morning to repair a minor meniscus tear in his left knee, according to his agent, though the club said it wants its doctor to see Lo Duca before making a final decision.
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Murcer honored for rousing recovery — Ex-Yankee's emotional acceptance punctuates BBWAA Awards — NEW YORK — The fact that Bobby Murcer even made it to the New York Hilton on Sunday night represented something of a miracle. Science said he shouldn't have been there. Common sense agreed.
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Danny Knobler / Detroit Tigers Insider:
Inge agrees to report to Lakeland with catchers — DETROIT — The Tigers are preparing to open the spring with Brandon Inge on their roster, and Inge appears to be on board with the plan. — Inge spoke with general manager Dave Dombrowski about his situation, and the Tigers said he has agreed …
Greg Lee / Boston Globe:
Sox make minor move — The Red Sox today issued the following press release: — The Red Sox today acquired righthanded pitcher David Aardsma from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for righthanded pitchers Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich. — The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Three Offseason Questions for the Mets — A great team cannot be, of all things, aimless, but that is what the Mets have been this winter. While their purportedly hot pursuit of Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana has garnered all the attention, the Mets have done little or nothing …
Alan Matthews / Baseball America:
Los Angeles Angeles Top 10 Prospects — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Glavine puts Mets finale in perspective — Lefty disappointed, not devastated about last game in New York — The Mets had hemorrhaged; Shea Stadium was an exposed nerve. A grotesque inning had begotten a dreadful defeat that completed an epic collapse.
