Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox extend Francona's contract — Manager stays put with one year remaining on original deal — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The optimism that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein recently expressed in regard to signing manager Terry Francona to a contract extension was validated on Sunday …
Discussion:
SawxBlog
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox, Francona strike deal through 2011 — The Red Sox and Terry Francona this morning finalized terms of a three-year extension that will take the Sox manager through the 2011 season, the team confirmed today. WBZ4's Dan Roche first broke the story this morning.
ESPN.com:
Red Sox give Francona extension — After leading the Red Sox to their second World Series title during his four-year tenure, Terry Francona was rewarded with a three-year extension Sunday through 2011. — The Red Sox also have two club options for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Deal official — The Red Sox have made it official: Terry Francona has agreed to a three-year deal with two option years. The deal will keep the skipper with the team through the 2011 season, and is expected to place Francona among the highest-paid managers in the game, which would place him in the $3 million to $4 million range.
Associated Press:
After second Series title, Red Sox's Francona gets extension — CBSSports.com wire reports — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Terry Francona has agreed to a contract extension through 2011 after leading the Boston Red Sox to two World Series championships in his four seasons as manager.
Jeff Blair / Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays sign Stewart to minor-league deal — DUNEDIN, FLA. — Shannon Stewart is back where his career began - with the Toronto Blue Jays. — Stewart agreed on Saturday afternoon to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training and is expected to join the Blue Jays in a matter of days.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Associated Press, Bluebird Banter, The Mockingbird and Batter's Box Interactive …
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John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:
Silva, Washburn, Batista go 3-4-5 in Seattle rotation — It's official — Miguel Batista, the winningest pitcher in Seattle last season, will be the No. 5 starter for the Mariners in 2008. — Manager John McLaren, who'd earlier said he'd go with Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez in the first two spots …
Discussion:
Rain Delay
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Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Batista named the 5th starter — It's official. What we've been telling you all week. Carlos Silva is the Mariners' No. 3 starter, followed by Jarrod Washburn at No. 4 and Miguel Batista (seen throwing a bullpen session this morning — we've added photos since our initial post) at No. 5.
Associated Press:
Phils closer Lidge to have surgery, out 3-6 weeks — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies closer Brad Lidge is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and could miss the regular-season opener. — Lidge, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, limped off the field Saturday …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
GEEKS GOT IT RIGHT — JETER'S FIELDING WOES NO MYTH, BUT HE MAY HAVE ANSWER — IT IS so easy to turn this into geeks vs. the prom king, University of Penn statistic professors vs. Derek Jeter. Who do you think is going to win that one in the court of public opinion?
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, Bronx Banter, WasWatching.com, Baseball Musings, FanHouse and NY Daily News
philly.com:
EXTRA BASES — Camps have been open for nearly two weeks and righthander Kyle Lohse is still unsigned. Lohse and agent Scott Boras had been looking for a deal in the neighborhood of five years and $55 million. With no takers at that price, it appears they are waiting for a team to suffer …
JSOnline:
Notes: Attanasio prepared to deal with young stars — Owner says he's willing to pay up — Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio met Saturday with general manager Doug Melvin to begin making plans for offering multi-year contracts to some of the team's talented young players.
Discussion:
MLB Fleece Factor
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Less leather, less lumber? … One year after signing center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. to a five-year, $50 million contract, the Los Angeles Angels spent part of the winter locking up another center fielder, Torii Hunter. In this case, the deal was worth $90 million over five seasons, an average of $18 million per.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
