Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Yankees make offer to Sabathia, have Burnett and Lowe on radar … As expected Friday, the New York Yankees officially tendered an offer to free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia. — The offer is expected to be six years in length and have a total value of slightly more than the record $137.5 million deal …
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Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
New York Yankees make offer to Sabathia — The Yankees made a contract offer to lefty ace CC Sabathia Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the team's plans, that would make Sabathia the highest-paid pitcher ever. — The offer exceeds the six-year, $137.5 million deal the Mets …
ESPN:
Yankees can have whatever they want — When a superstar like Jennifer Lopez wants to shop in a jewelry store, they'll sometimes close down the place, so J-Lo can have her choice of all the baubles in the place, unfettered, unbothered, a market of one. — And as baseball's free agent period begins, think of the Yankees as J-Lo.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Baseball Musings, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Sliding Into Home, MLB Rumors, MVN Outsider and Federal Baseball
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Lots of cake for the big lefty — Here is the message the Yankees are sending the rest of baseball: — Don't. Even. Try. — The Yankees have offered CC Sabathia a six-year deal worth $140 million. The record for a pitcher is six years and $137.5 million for Johan Santana.
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Wood: Leaving Cubs is ‘bittersweet’ — Kerry Wood called his departure from the Cubs “bittersweet” on Friday, but said he'd been preparing for the possibility of leaving through the 2008 season and wasn't surprised by general manager Jim Hendry's decision to go in another direction.
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MLB.com:
Mets name Luis Alicea first base coach — FLUSHING — Manager Jerry Manuel completed the New York Mets' coaching staff today by naming Luis Alicea the team's first base coach. — For the last two years, Alicea was the first base coach for the Boston Red Sox.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Closer Hoffman miffed by treatment from Padres … The last time that Trevor Hoffman was a free agent, there were some doubts among executives with other teams whether he would ever seriously consider leaving the Padres — a team he'd played with for more than a decade.
Discussion:
MLB.com
Hot Stove Blog:
Braves no longer actively pursuing Peavy — Braves general manager Frank Wren said Friday that he is no longer having active negotiations with Padres general manager Kevin Towers about Jake Peavy. This might not completely rule out the possibility of Peavy joining the Braves in the future.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Giants are ready to shop — The automatic doors whoosh open at the free-agent supermarket today, and Giants General Manager Brian Sabean has his credit card in hand. His spending limit? That remains to be determined. — Sabean has touched base with agents for most of the heavyweights on the market …
Associated Press:
Quentin says wrist is fine — CHICAGO (AP)—White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin said his surgically repaired right wrist has responded well and he's been able to do some light hitting without any problems. — “Just kind of going through the normal routine in the offseason where I've …
Matthew Futterman / Wall Street Journal:
Deadline Bends in Cubs Bidding — Sam Zell's Tribune Co. has backed off its demand for a new round of bids for the Chicago Cubs before Thanksgiving. — Just days ago, finalists to purchase the storied baseball franchise were told to deliver revised bids and financing plans by Nov. 27.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Free agent season starts now — Manny Ramirez is drawing the most notice as all teams are free to negotiate with free agents starting Friday. — We come to talk about Manny Ramirez, and the Dodgers, and free agency. Yet we must first talk about cool scented towels.
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Diane Pucin / Los Angeles Times:Arte Moreno injects Angels into Manny Ramirez buzz
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Toronto Blue Jays — 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.
It is about the money, stupid:
Varitek's a proxy for Jeter — If nothing else about this blog, I try like heck to deliver a fair point of view on the Yanks. The blind homer isn't here. And, if you have been with me for any tiny stretch of time, you know that while I remain a Jeter fan, I am bluntly honest about him (and the Yanks).
Discussion:
ShysterBall
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Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Mazzilli out of SNY studio show — Lee Mazzilli, SportsNet New York's lead studio analyst, won't be returning to the network for the 2009 season. — MLB sources said Mazzilli, whose contract expired following the 2008 season, was informed last week that SNY suits wanted to head in another direction.
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