Top News:
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Giants sign LHP Jeremy Affeldt — The Giants made a potentially significant upgrade to their depleted and ineffective bullpen, signing left-hander Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year contract Monday. — Terms haven't become public yet, but Affeldt made $3 million with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Associated Press:
Giants sign reliever Affeldt to two-year contract — SAN FRANCISCO — Reliever Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to agree to a contract, striking an $8 million, two-year deal Monday with the San Francisco Giants. — One of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's offseason priorities …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Sign Jeremy Affeldt — By Tim Dierkes [November 17 at 1:46pm CST] — 2:39pm: MLB.com's Mark Sheldon says it's a two-year, $8MM deal for Affeldt. Nice signing! Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants are not done looking for relievers.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Crowning achievement: Pujols NL MVP — Cards slugger's dazzling season helps club exceed expectations — ST. LOUIS — The National League's best player has also been named its most valuable. — Albert Pujols' magnificent season earned him his second NL Most Valuable Player Award.
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JSOnline:
Pujols is MVP; Braun 3rd, Sabathia 6th — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols claimed his second NL MVP award today, collecting 18 of 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Associated Press:
Pujols beats out Howard for NL MVP award — NEW YORK — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP award, powering past Philadelphia Phillies star Ryan Howard by a comfortable margin Monday. — Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow.
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:NL MVP Preview
Discussion:
Associated Press, Fox Sports, Beyond the Box Score, Baseball Crank, The Griddle and Phillies Nation
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Mets need more than a closer to rebuild their bullpen — Talking today with somebody familiar with the Mets' off-season plans. This person agrees that the Mets want to and will sign one of the big free-agent closers (Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood), and that's a matter …
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David Lennon / Newsday:Mets expected to make offers soon
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …, The 'Ropolitans, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, New York Post and Newsday
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Mariners could name new manager as soon as Tuesday — Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik could name a new manager as soon as Tuesday after deciding not to hold a second round of interviews... Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik could name a new manager as soon as Tuesday …
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Phil Rogers / Baseball America:
Chicago White Sox — 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.
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Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Hot Stove Preview — AL Central — What Do They Need? The White Sox head into next season with essentially replacement-level alternatives at two positions, center field and second base, though there is room to debate that characterization at the keystone, depending on what you think of rookie Chris Getz.
Josh Jackson / MLB.com:
Posey, BeachBoys win championship — Giants prospect slugs first Hawaii homer en route to club's first crown — Giants prospect Buster Posey hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Waikiki BeachBoys cruised to their first Hawaii Winter Baseball championship victory over the West Oahu CaneFires, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon.
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
The Bill James Handbook 2009 - Part One — One of the beauties of November is the arrival of The Bill James Handbook, the most stat-filled annual baseball guide available. The book, produced by Baseball Info Solutions and published by ACTA Sports, is always the first one to hit the market following the just-completed season.
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Agence France Presse:
Schoolgirl knuckleballer headed to Japan pro league — TOKYO (AFP) - A 16-year-old schoolgirl with a mean knuckleball has been selected as the first woman ever to play alongside the men in Japanese professional baseball. — Eri Yoshida was drafted for a new independent league that will launch in April …
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Kara Scannell / Wall Street Journal:
SEC Charges Mark Cuban With Insider Trading — The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for allegedly dumping shares in Mamma.com upon learning it was raising money in a private offering (full text of complaint).
Discussion:
FanHouse, 6-4-2, The Cub Reporter (TCR), SPORTSbyBROOKS, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, With Leather and Deadspin
