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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Free agent rundown (cont.) — More Interesting Cases — 21. Rocco Baldelli, outfielder. Tampa Bay declined the option in spring, but he showed he can still play in spurts. Very talented, and could be a bargain if his health improves. — 22. Juan Cruz, reliever. Hard thrower has closer stuff.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
A rundown of key free agents … DANA POINT, Calif. — With a trio of megastars who are free agents (and several more very good ones), plus at least two more huge stars on the trading block, the Major League Baseball GM meetings begin Sunday and Monday with a lot of discussion about millionaires …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
The place might be the thing — Why not trade for a change of scenery? — I never really understood why there aren't more “swap meet” type deals in baseball. As in, “You take what I can't use and I'll take what you can't use.” — There was a consensus among the general managers I spoke …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals targeting slugger to clean up — After struggling at plate in '08, Washington looking for punch — WASHINGTON — Baseball's annual General Managers Meetings commence Monday in Dana Point, Calif., and Nationals GM Jim Bowden will try his best to improve an offense that finished near …
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Federal Baseball
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox have options worth exploring — Upgrading team speed could be a top priority — The White Sox cannot discuss monetary terms with free agents until Nov. 14, but there's plenty of groundwork they can do starting Monday at the general managers' meetings in Dana Point, Calif.
Discussion:
Sox Machine
Evan Grant / TEXAS RANGERS:
Source: Maddux is pitching coach — The Rangers will name Mike Maddux pitching coach perhaps as early as Monday, a source with knowledge of the process said Sunday night. — GM Jon Daniels confirmed only that the Rangers had been in touch with Maddux this weekend. He did not confirm or deny the report.
Discussion:
Major League Baseball
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David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies select Amaro as new GM — This just in. . . Ruben Amaro Jr. is the new Phillies general manager. — Sources close to the situation confirmed to the Daily News' Paul Hagen that club president Dave Montgomery met with assistant general manager, scouting and player development …
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:Wright to Rollins: We don't like you either
Discussion:
Dom D's Mets Fan Blog
George King III / New York Post:
NO ‘OPTION’ FOR MARTE — Add Damaso Marte to Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano as players the Yankees aren't likely to exercise options on - which will make them free agents. — Giambi has a $22 million option with a $5 million buyout and Pavano has a $15 million option with a $1.95 million buyout.
Gregg Doyel / CBS SportsLine.com:
Fix the World Series? Why bother with America's Afterthought? — Tell Gregg your opinion! — The truth of the matter is ... baseball just isn't that important anymore. — Baseball purists and constipated gripers — same thing, if you ask me — want to blame the 2008 World Series …
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Let the offseason races begin — Most of baseball's 30 general managers will arrive in Dana Point, Calif., Sunday and Monday for the annual GM meetings, the unofficial beginning of baseball's offseason. — It's going to be a busy winter, with huge names out there for the taking.
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built, MLB FanHouse, Fire Brand of the …, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs and MLB Rumors
Craig Calcaterra / ShysterBall:
Enough — I was content to roll my eyes as every second rate hack from every second rate newspaper auto-piloted his way through his “we must fix the World Series” column last week, but now that a serious, and respected guy like Buster Olney is peddling this garbage [Insider only], something must be said.
Discussion:
ESPN
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Two more Angels join free agent ranks — Oliver, Rivera bring count to five; K-Rod expected to file — With reliever Darren Oliver and outfielder Juan Rivera filing for free agency on Friday, the Angels now have five players on the list of free agents — and one prominent name remaining to declare his free agency.
Katie Thomas / New York Times:
After a Steep Fall, Leyritz Tries to Rebuild Life — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Autumn had always been good to Jim Leyritz. — Most of the time, Leyritz was just a workaday Yankee on a team of stars, but the postseason seemed to be his stage, as he twirled his bat at the plate and hit home runs when it mattered most.
