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:
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 …
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:Royals obtain 1B Jacobs from Marlins for Nuñez
Discussion:
Dom D's Mets Fan Blog, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Beyond the Box Score, MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Brewers hire Macha as team's new manager — MILWAUKEE — Ken Macha gets to manage again. That's because Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is a big believer in second chances. — The 58-year-old Macha was hired Thursday as the manager of the Brewers, taking over the role …
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 …
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Jones returning as Tigers' 'pen coach — Detroit brings back aide after intially releasing him at season's end — DETROIT — Jeff Jones was dismissed as bullpen coach at season's end in large part to allow a new pitching coach to make his own choice for the role.
RELATED:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
With World Series drought over, Phillies seek refill — PHILADELPHIA — The message on the T-shirts that popped up around Citizens Bank Park soon after the final out of the World Series captured the joy and relief of Phillies fans in a uniquely Philadelphia way. — “Phinally,” the T-shirts proclaimed.
Discussion:
Washington Post
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Phillies-Rays Series draws record-low television ratings — CBSSports.com wire reports — NEW YORK — A small-market team and a short series often are guarantees of low television ratings for sports in this age of fractured audiences. The 2008 World Series added to that double whammy …
RELATED:
Mel Antonen / USA Today:Despite World Series loss, Rays prove they rate with best
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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.
MLB.com:
Mets sign Fernando Tatis to a one-year contract — Fernando Tatis, who was named the National League Comeback Player-of-the-Year this season, today signed a one-year contract with the New York Mets. Terms were not disclosed. — Tatis, 33, who hit .297 with 16 doubles, one triple …
Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com:
Dempster one of four to test market — Starter wants to stay; Edmonds, Howry, Fox also file for free agency — CHICAGO — Four Cubs, including All-Star right-hander Ryan Dempster and center fielder Jim Edmonds, filed for free agency on Thursday, the first eligible day to do so.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats cut ties with closer Cordero — Wagner, Orr also outrighted, decline Minors assignments — WASHINGTON — The Nationals outrighted right-handers Chad Cordero and Ryan Wagner and infielder Pete Orr to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. All three declined the assignment and elected to become free agents …
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.
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yankee Stadium: One last plate appearance? — Yankee Stadium could host one final ceremony after all. — Stealing home — Plans are in the works to have Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte transfer home plate from the current ballpark into the new Yankee Stadium …
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Three Braves file for free agency — Norton, Ohman and Tavarez to test the market — Greg Norton, Will Ohman and Julian Tavarez filed for free agency on Thursday, the first day that eligible players could officially declare their intentions to test the market.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Wren readies for GM Meetings — Starters, slugging oufielder on short list of offseason needs — For more than a month, Braves general manager Frank Wren has been planning his attack. Now, it's time for him to dive headfirst into what should be a very hectic offseason shopping spree.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
CTC / Walkoff Walk:
Video Of Car Flipping Brings Back Surprisingly Not Horrible Memory — WoW BFF Dmac brings us this compelling video of some gentle souls in Philly flipping what appears to be an '01 Civic (?) after last night's clincher. — Here's a fun Liakos story. In 2004, I was living in Tallahassee but came back to Boston for the World Series.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Pena picks up his own option for '09 — WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Nationals declined a $5 million club option on outfielder Wily Mo Pena, who subsequently exercised a $2 million player option for the 2009 season. — The team was expecting big things out of Pena this past season …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
