Top News:
David W. Chen / New York Times:
City Pressed Hard for Use of Yankee Luxury Suite — The Bloomberg administration was so intent on obtaining a free luxury suite for its own use at the new Yankee Stadium, newly released e-mail messages show, that the mayor's aides pushed for a larger suite and free food …
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
City demanded free suite, food from Yankees, e-mails reveal — Mayor Bloomberg's top aides engaged in a behind-the-scenes brawl to win a free luxury suite at the new Yankee Stadium that could wind up costing taxpayers, e-mails show. — Some of the mayor's top deputies spent months threatening and cajoling to get the free skybox.
Baltimore Sun:
Sources: Orioles revisit trade talks for Pie — Team could land Cubs outfielder in three-way deal with Padres, who would send RHP Peavy to Chicago — The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Chicago Cubs about multi-tool outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources …
RELATED:
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
O's may fit as third team in Peavy deal — Reportedly discussing Pie with Cubs, who would get Padres ace — The Orioles may end up as a third team in a three-way deal that would send Padres right-hander Jake Peavy to the Cubs, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun.
ESPN:
Five post-Thanksgiving questions to digest — We know the Yankees can, will and may keep moving up to make it impossible for Sabathia to go anywhere else. — We also know that Angels owner Arte Moreno can make it very difficult for anyone to say no; ask Torii Hunter after Moreno put …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Lowe in win-win situation — He'll strike it rich with a contender — He spent Thanksgiving with his family in Fort Myers, Fla., watching his beloved Detroit Lions lose again, working out like a fiend with former Red Sox and Pedro Martínez trainer Chris Correnti …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Kennedy impresses in Puerto Rico — Ian Kennedy is doing some nice work in Puerto Rico for the Indios de Mayaguez. Here are his stats through four starts: — 19.2 innings — 11 hits — 5 earned runs — 1 home run — 9 walks — 18 strikeouts — Opposing BA: .169 — WHIP: 1.02
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays plan extra rest for pitchers after long season — James Shields, with a 25-inning jump from 2007, was one of several Rays pitchers forced to work harder than ever. — Times] — If Rays fans don't see James Shields or Matt Garza pitching in games during the first week or so of spring training, they shouldn't worry.
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — Hank Sauer, my mother-in-law Gwen's favorite player as a kid. — Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Where are they now? Former Met Jon Matlack — Many of the pitchers Jon Matlack works with now as the minor-league pitching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers have no idea how good Matlack was as a vital member of a sparkling Met rotation in the 1970s. One former pupil who had been traded came running …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
MLB INSIDER: Mets trying to catch up? — Earlier this offseason, the Mets asked the Rangers about catcher Gerald Laird, just as they did last year, a person familiar with the situation said. — There hasn't been much discussion there lately; the Mets, as we all know, have prioritized the renovation of their pitching staff.
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Happy Birthday, Minnie, No Matter Your Age — Depending on the source, Minnie Miñoso either turns 83 or 86 years old today. — Miñoso's actual age may or may not matter at this point. What's most important is that he's alive and apparently doing well.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Royals Sign J.R. House — By Tim Dierkes [November 29 at 10:04pm CST] — According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Royals signed catcher J.R. House to a split contract. House, 29, hit .306/.378/.480 in 454 Triple A at-bats this year. Back in the day, House was considered …
