Top News:
NY Daily News:
Mets, Yanks: We'll CC you on Sabathia — The latest Subway Series tussle could be over none other than CC Sabathia, the Daily News has learned, as the Mets Thursday apparently joined the Yankees in pursuit of baseball's biggest free agent prize. — A high-placed Yankee source Thursday reacted …
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New York Post:
SWISHER MEANS TEIXEIRA UNLIKELY — FREE agency began at midnight today. The raging speculation has been that the Yankees will sign CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and another high-end free agent or two such as Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett. General manager Brian Cashman termed that conjecture “crazy talk.”
Discussion:
Hardball, Yankees Blog, Beyond the Box Score, Sliding Into Home, iYankees, NJ.com, Red Sox Monster, Washington Post, Nationals Journal and 6-4-2
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.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Swisher addition shows Yanks common sense — This baseball winter was supposed to be a feast for Yankees-haters, Exhibit A of How to Buy Friends and Irritate People. Embarrassed by their inexcusable 89-victory season, the Yankees were going to come out like Rambo with a checkbook …
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Jays will be hung up waiting for Burnett — Baseball free agents, start your engines. As of midnight, hunting licenses were officially handed out to 30 major-league GMs allowing them to participate in a frenzied free-for-all that is the free-est free-agency in pro sports. No limit on the body count.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:Sources: Yanks acquire Swisher for minor leaguer
Discussion:
ESPN, Purple Row, Baseball Crank, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Beyond the Box Score, The Futility Infielder, South Side Sox, The DiaTribe, Baseball Musings, NJ.com, River Avenue Blues, SOX1FAN, New Jersey Online, Yankee Stadium Insider Blog, Home Run Derby, Bucs Dugout, Pinstripe Alley, Replacement Level …, Baseball America, The Sommer Frieze, MLB Rumors, Scott Proctor's Arm, Bottom9 Baseball, umpbump.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding, YanksBlog.com, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Depressed Fan, My Pinstripes, Over the Monster, Giambi Mustache Squad, Mets Merized Online, YFSF, Lone Star Ball, Sliding Into Home, bronxbanterblog.com, Hot Foot and Pending Pinstripes
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Pedroia wins Silver Slugger Award — Red Sox second baseman adds another trophy to his collection — BOSTON — Awards season continues to be kind to Dustin Pedroia. The latest piece of hardware for the little second baseman of the Boston Red Sox? A Silver Slugger Award.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Kerrying on without Wood — Closer's career with the Cubs likely finished after Hendry deals for Gregg — The Cubs closed one era as they prepared to open the make-or-break part of their offseason work, cutting ties with Wrigley Field icon Kerry Wood on the eve of the open free-agency period.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Chicagosports / Hardball:Cubs wave bye to Wood
Discussion:
MLB.com, ESPN, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Siberian Baseball, Cub Town, The Cub Reporter (TCR) and Ivy Chat
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.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Ken Tremendous / FIRE JOE MORGAN:
Post #1377: The Relatively Short Goodbye — Hello, everyone. — After 21 years, and almost 40 million posts (we'll have to check those numbers, but it's something like that), we have decided to bring FJM to an end. — Although we have not lost our borderline-sociopathic joy …
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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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.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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Diane Pucin / Los Angeles Times:Arte Moreno injects Angels into Manny Ramirez buzz
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Towers might have to broaden scope of Peavy trade talks — The Padres have been unable to line up a suitable trade with one of Jake Peavy's preferred teams and now may turn to another club in an attempt to move Peavy's four-year, $63 million guarantee. — “We've had advanced discussions …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Pitching atop Mets' offseason list — Free agency here, Minaya looks to upgrade rotation, bullen — NEW YORK — After two weeks of window shopping, the Mets now are in position to upgrade their beleaguered bullpen and reinforce the rotation. No longer prohibited from negotiating with all free agents …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Ranking the top free agents (Nos. 1-10) … Following are my scouting reports on the top 50 free agents, and you can see from the top 10 that this year's class includes bigger names than we've seen in recent years. — For more free agent information, go to the Free Agent Tracker …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Johnson files, unlikely to return in '09 — His agents, D-backs unable to reach agreement on new deal — PHOENIX — It looks like Randy Johnson will not pitch for the D-backs in 2009. — Johnson and the D-backs reached an impasse in negotiations on a new contract …
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