Top News:
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
KC acquires power-hitting Jacobs — Royals send reliever Nunez to Marlins for first baseman — KANSAS CITY — The Royals acquired power-hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs from the Florida Marlins on Thursday for right-handed reliever Leo Nunez. — Jacobs, who turned 28 on Thursday …
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals obtain 1B Jacobs from Marlins for Nuñez — The Royals wasted no time Thursday in pulling the trigger on their first major off-season move by acquiring slugging first baseman Mike Jacobs from the Florida Marlins for reliever Leo Nuñez. — The deal comes one day after …
Rany / Rany on the Royals:
Memo to DMGM: WTF? — So I guess Mark Teahen isn't moving anywhere after all. It's not often that a rumor that was reported at the highest levels gets shot down with such authority, but that's what happened here. Even as Bob Dutton himself reported that “Sources from both clubs said Teahen …
ESPN.com:
Brewers hire Macha as team's new manager — MILWAUKEE — Ken Macha was hired Thursday as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, taking over from interim Dale Sveum following the team's first postseason appearance since 1982. — The 58-year-old Macha, who managed Oakland to a pair …
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Al's Ramblings, Walkoff Walk, Baseball Digest Daily Blog and Another Cubs Blog
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers to name Macha manager — Former A's skipper won two division titles with Oakland — MILWAUKEE — Six years after Brewers general manager Doug Melvin first asked Ken Macha to be the team's field manager, Macha is poised to accept. — The Brewers called a 2 p.m. CT press conference Thursday during …
New York Post:
YANKEES MAY GUN FOR MANNY — PHILADELPHIA -Manny Ramirez doesn't fit the Yankees' desire to get younger and more athletic, but several industry sources believe the Yankees will make a serious push for the free agent to play right field next year. — Though GM Brian Cashman …
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Don't expect Yankees to meet Teixeira's price — This promises to be a fascinating baseball offseason, with huge dollars being committed to huge names. The free-agency battle that seems to be exciting industry folks the most is not that for the stud starting pitcher CC Sabathia, nor for the wonder that is Manny Ramirez.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Herzog has an idea for weather issue — PHILADELPHIA — If you thought this baseball season has lasted too long into wintry weather — Wednesday's resumption of World Series Game 5 was the second-latest by date in history — this is nothing compared to what the potential is for next year.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Newsday, It is about the money, stupid, Baseball Musings, The Crawfish Boxes, The Heater and ShysterBall
RELATED:
MLB.com:
White Sox decline 2009 options on contracts of Ken Griffey Jr. and Toby Hall — CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have declined the club options for 2009 on the contracts of outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and catcher Toby Hall. Griffey and Hall will be eligible for free agency.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Burnett to decide on opt-out by Monday at latest — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett expects to decide whether to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract before the start of the Major League Baseball general managers' meetings Monday in Dana Point, Calif., his agent said Thursday.
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans
ESPN:
‘Relieved’ Tazawa not drafted in Japan, eyes MLB — TOKYO — Junichi Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who wants to play in the major leagues, was passed over by Japan's 12 professional teams in Thursday's amateur draft. — Tazawa, whose fastball reaches 97 mph …
Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Steelers Notebook: Safety is slighted by lack of playing time — Anthony Smith feels slighted. He started 10 games last season after illness struck down free safety Ryan Clark, and he wonders why he likely won't get the job this week. — “Yeah, I'm frustrated,” Smith said yesterday.
Dafney Tales / Philly.com:
Phillies fan robs bank to pay for gear — Phillies fans are known for their diehard, drastic and often drunken support for their team. — Crazed Phanatics paint the team's logo on their lawns or imbibe the same amount of shots as the number on favorite player's jersey. — It doesn't matter.
Dan Morain / Top of the Ticket:
Jeff Kent opens his checkbook and takes a stand against gay marriage — Jeff Kent, who played second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, has stepped into the emotional world of same-sex marriage, giving $15,000 to backers of the California proposition on Tuesday's ballot that would ban it.
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Ned Colletti says club hopes to talk to Manny Ramirez's agent soon — General manager says re-signing the outfielder is one of the team's top three priorities this off-season. — Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday his communication with agent Scott Boras …
RELATED:
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Phils win first World Series since 1980 — PHILADELPHIA (AP)—From losingest team to longest game, the Philadelphia Phillies are World Series champions. — Strange as that sounds. — Strange as it was. — Brad Lidge and the Phillies finished off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 …
RELATED:
