Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Sources: Yanks acquire Swisher for minor leaguer … The New York Yankees have acquired center fielder-first baseman Nick Swisher in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, baseball sources tell ESPN.com. — Minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez is headed to Chicago in the deal, the source said.
Discussion:
ESPN, Beyond the Box Score, The Futility Infielder, South Side Sox, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bucs Dugout, Baseball America, The Sommer Frieze, NJ.com, Baseball Musings, New Jersey Online, River Avenue Blues, Scott Proctor's Arm, Yankee Stadium Insider Blog, Bottom9 Baseball, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Home Run Derby, umpbump.com, Baseball & The Boogie Down, SOX1FAN, Pinstripe Alley, Replacement Level …, Sliding Into Home, YanksBlog.com, My Pinstripes, Pinstripes, Pa., Lone Star Ball, Giambi Mustache Squad, Mets Merized Online, YFSF, bronxbanterblog.com, Pending Pinstripes, It is about the money, stupid, MetsBlog.com and Hot Foot
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks acquire Swisher from White Sox — On the eve of free agency, New York bolsters 2009 lineup — NEW YORK — Before setting their sights on the rotation holes that are sure to dominate their offseason agenda, the Yankees on Thursday made an acquisition unrelated to their pitching staff.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Yankees Acquire Nick Swisher
Discussion:
ESPN, umpbump.com, Depressed Fan, Over the Monster, Walkoff Walk, New Jersey Online, NJ.com and River Avenue Blues
ESPN:
Sources: Cubs add Gregg to bullpen with trade from Marlins — The Chicago Cubs have acquired Florida Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — The Marlins received 22-year-old right-hander Jose Ceda in return, according to sources.
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Chicagosports / Hardball:
Cubs wave bye to Wood — The Kerry Wood era in Chicago began with a bang and ended with a thud. — On a cloudy November afternoon in Chicago, the Cubs quietly cut ties with their free-agent closer, who tied a major-league record with 20 strikeouts in his fifth big league start in 1998.
Chicago Breaking News:Cubs say goodbye to Kerry Wood
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Hardball, The Crawfish Boxes, The Cub Reporter (TCR), Chuckie Hacks, Another Cubs Blog, MLB Rumors and Hot Foot
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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Robert Falkoff / MLB.com:
It's silver and gold for talented quartet — Mauer, Pedroia, Sizemore and Wright earn two coveted awards — At the plate as well as in the field, the quartet of Joe Mauer, Dustin Pedroia, Grady Sizemore and David Wright can always find a way to help win a ballgame.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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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Eric Seidman / FanGraphs Baseball:
BBWAA, Get Your Act Together! — Earlier this week, I poked some good-natured fun at the BBWAA for their Rookie of the Year award voting. See, Edinson Volquez of the Reds finished fourth in the balloting, yet he is not a rookie. Just because nobody heard of him prior to this year does …
Discussion:
Baseball Digest Daily Blog
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Lee wins 2008 AL Cy Young Award — After pacing league in wins and ERA, lefty earns well-deserved honor — The constant quest for perfection drove Cliff Lee to great feats throughout 2008. — “Even if I had won every start, I don't know if I'd be satisfied,” he said near the season's end.
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 …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Big Unit likely won't return to D-Backs — Yesterday we told you about a meeting between the Diamondbacks and pitcher Randy Johnson's representatives. Well, it didn't go so well. Sounds as if the Big Unit, three wins shy of 300, won't be back in Arizona. — The following is the statement from his Octagon representatives:
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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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Bill Shanks / Scout.com:
Ted Turner to buy back the Braves? — Could Ted Turner buy back the Atlanta Braves? Well he's evidently thinking about it. — Ted Turner told ABC's ‘Good Morning America’ Tuesday that he may have interest in purchasing the club from Liberty Media. — Turner was promoting his new book …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies will look for pitchers on market — DENVER — The Rockies have been trade-oriented this offseason, but late-game, left-handed pitching could be the team's main open-market focus now that teams are allowed to negotiate with other teams' free agents. — Multiple Major League sources …
Discussion:
Hot Stove Blog
MLB.com:
Dominican Winter League — Aguilas 11, Licey 5 — Astros outfielder Michael Bourn went 4-for-5 with three runs scored to lead an 18-hit attack as the Aguilas extended their winning streak to eight games. Major League veteran Hector Luna hit a three-run homer for first-place Cibaenas. Box score
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
