Top News:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Sign Damaso Marte — By Tim Dierkes [November 12 at 3:38pm CST] — 3:38pm: Joel Sherman says the 2012 option is for $4MM, with a $250K buyout. — 1:06pm: It's official. Marte gets a three-year deal with a club option for 2012. — 9:01am: According to Impacto Deportivo …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Yankees sign LHP Damaso Marte to a three-year contract with a club option for 2012 — The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Damaso Marte to a three-year contract with a one-year club option for 2012. — Marte, 33, was acquired by the Yankees …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks, Marte agree to three-year deal — Reliever, 33, gives Bombers solid left-hander in the bullpen — NEW YORK — The possibility of operating without an established left-handed option out of the bullpen, as the Yankees did for much of last season, is no longer a concern.
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
Marte gets three-year, $12M deal — The Yankees have made their first move of the winter, re-signing Damaso Marte to a three-year, $12 million deal. — The Daily News reported last week that the two sides were getting close on a three-year contract, so this doesn't come as much of a surprise.
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Maddon, Piniella named top skippers — Two colorful characters tabbed AL, NL Managers of the Year — Joe Maddon and the man he succeeded as Tampa Bay manager, Lou Piniella, were named Managers of the Year in the American League and National League, respectively, by the Baseball Writers' Association …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, Brew Crew Ball, Walkoff Walk, MLB FanHouse, River Avenue Blues and Rays Index
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Maddon wins AL manager of year; Piniella wins NL — NEW YORK — Joe Maddon has won the American League Manager of the Year after guiding the Tampa Bay Rays from baseball's basement to the World Series. Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs is the National League winner.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Piniella honored as Manager of Year — Cubs skipper wins award for third time, donates prize money — CHICAGO — Lou Piniella, who guided the Cubs to the best record in the National League, was named Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Wednesday.
Bill Ballew / Baseball America:
Tampa Bay Rays — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Discussion:
The Heater
MLB.com:
Red Sox freeze ticket prices for 2009 season — First time in 14 years the team holds prices on all seats and standing room tickets available to the public; Spring Training prices also held — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today announced the team is holding prices at 2008 levels …
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Associated Press:
Red Sox not raising ticket prices — BOSTON (AP)—For the first time in more than a decade, the Boston Red Sox aren't increasing their ticket prices at Fenway Park for the 2009 season. — The team said Wednesday that it had increased prices in each of the last 14 years.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Despite economy, Yanks will be big spenders — The Yankees know their needs — starting pitching tops the list — and are ready to start spending once free agency opens Friday, co-chairperson Hal Steinbrenner said yesterday. — “We're going to do what we do every year,” Steinbrenner said …
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Ken Davidoff's baseball insider:The Yankees and their bags of money
Discussion:
iYankees
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Crasnick: A victim of bad timing … The first big item on Ben Sheets' offseason agenda comes Dec. 14, when he will serve as grand marshal of the Christmas parade in Gonzales, La. — aka “the jambalaya capital of the world.” — Sometime before spring training, Sheets will find out where he'll be pitching in 2009.
Joe Sheehan / Sports Illustrated:
Sheehan: Holliday trade is a huge win for the A's … It has only just become official, now that physicals and medical histories and the like have been handled, but the Rockies' trade of Matt Holliday to the A's is finally a done deal today. I can't say that the delay hasn't been a good thing for me …
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Padres won't be shortchanged on Peavy — A week after general managers meetings in which a trade of Jake Peavy was widely considered inevitable and imminent, San Diego Padres decision-makers are reminding each other that a deal doesn't necessarily need to be made by the weekend.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Hairston grateful to Reds for chance — Free agent expected to hit open market, open to Cincinnati return — CINCINNATI — Infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. rediscovered success last season with the Reds and is grateful. — Hairston, a free agent, wouldn't mind having another go in Cincinnati …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
MLB.com:
MLB Network adds to on-air talent lineup — Al Leiter and Harold Reynolds join as studio analysts along with reporters Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae — SECAUCUS, N.J. — MLB Network today announced four new additions to its roster of on-air talent, naming baseball veterans Al Leiter …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals not pursuing Manny — Team interested in Rockies' Gonzalez to fill center field — WASHINGTON — There have been several reports recently that the Nationals have expressed interest in free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez. Not so, according to general manager Jim Bowden.
