Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets agree to terms with Santana — Club to ink ace southpaw to lucrative contract extension — NEW YORK — An offseason that had been all about who wasn't on the Mets' roster has executed an about-face and now is distinctive because of who almost certainly will be.
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Mets Blog:
Mets give Johan $150.75 million — It took an extension to get the extension done. But it got done, and now Feb. 1, 2008 will go down as one of the most glorious days in Mets history. — Because that is the day the Mets overcame the last significant hurdle to assure Johan Santana would be their ace.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
It's Official: Santana and Mets Have a Deal — It took every bit of their allotted 72 hours, an additional 90 minutes and $137.5 million, but the Mets finally secured the best pitcher in baseball. They reached an agreement with Johan Santana, the dominant left-hander acquired Tuesday …
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
AP INTERVIEW: Red Sox manager glad Santana headed out of AL — BOSTON—Terry Francona sat in Fenway Park's quiet visitors clubhouse, a room where Johan Santana won't be sitting unless the Red Sox and Mets meet in the World Series. — No wonder Boston's skipper smiled.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:News: Two More Hours — The Mets have been granted an additional …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Anthony Andro / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Kinsler, Rangers talk about long-term deal — ARLINGTON — Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler hopes he and the club can come to an agreement on a new, long-term contract. — There's still work to be done in getting there. — “It's a matter of coming to an agreement and trying to reach the right number …
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Chance to work with Ryan excites Texas Rangers' Daniels — GM says ex-Rangers' experience would be boost to team's future — egrant@dallasnews.com — Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Friday he's excited about the possibility of working with Nolan Ryan if Ryan comes aboard as the club's president.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, Sanchez close to agreement on three-year deal — Burnett taken off roster but likely to stay in system — The Pirates and Freddy Sanchez are close to agreement on a three-year contract and could have a deal early next week. — Such a contract would allow the team …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees Spring Training quick hits — 2007 record — Projected batting order — 1. LF Johnny Damon: — .270 BA, .351 OBP, .396 SLG, 12 HRs, 63 RBIs in 2007 — 2. SS Derek Jeter: — .322 BA, .388 OBP, .452 SLG, 12 HRs, 73 RBIs in 2007 — 3. RF Bobby Abreu:
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks' newest arrival: Competition — Handful of positions have no front-runner entering spring camp — NEW YORK — Open competition has not necessarily been a hallmark of Yankees Spring Trainings, where most roster jobs are usually doled out by Feb. 14 in the form of guaranteed big league contracts.
Discussion:
NJ.com
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Team Offense, Los Angeles Dodgers — We continue to look at team offenses for 2008 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. … In 2007, the Dodgers scored 4.54 runs per game. — I plugged in a likely lineup to the Lineup Analysis Tool, using the Marcel the Monkey predictions from Tom Tango.
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Reds sign Sauerbeck, Bako — Veterans agree to Minor League deals with spring invites — Nine years after beginning his Major League career in Pittsburgh, left-hander Scott Sauerbeck is trying to make his way back home. — The Cincinnati native and veteran reliever has signed …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cards look internally for leadoff man — Manager La Russa prizes on-base percentage at top of order — ST. LOUIS — In one form or another, satisfactorily or not, the Cardinals did check off just about every item from their offseason shopping list this winter. They added a starting pitcher in Matt Clement.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Casey to be at the bat — Sox agree to terms with veteran, who will back up Youkilis — Sean Casey, who lost his job as Detroit's everyday first baseman when the Tigers elected to move sore-kneed Carlos Guillen from shortstop to first, will be coming to the Red Sox as a backup to Kevin Youkilis and as a lefthanded bat off the bench.
Nate Silver / Unfiltered:
PECOTA's Back — Just a very quick note: the 2008 PECOTA weighted means spreadsheets are available for download here. We've already run almost 1,900 forecasts, including (for the first time) players selected in last June's amateur draft. — The PECOTA cards themselves are still …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Deal or no deal? O's expect resolution soon — The Erik Bedard trade saga is expected to be resolved soon as the Orioles and Seattle Mariners attempt to clear up issues that stalled a deal that was nearly completed earlier this week. — Reached last night, Orioles owner Peter Angelos declined …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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