Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKS TO GO AFTER MANNY, TEIXEIRA — According to several baseball officials, the Yankees remain in the Mark Teixeira hunt. But the same connected voices insist if the Yankees don't land the switch-hitting first baseman, they will turn their money toward controversial slugger Manny Ramirez.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
CC ARRIVES TOMORROW — The plan is for CC Sabathia to arrive in town tomorrow night, take a physical Tuesday and possibly be introduced as the Yankees' $161 million savior by Wednesday. — Expect A.J. Burnett to follow after his $82.5 million deal is official.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, Scott Proctor's Arm, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, iYankees and Pinstripes, Pa.
Nat Boyle / MLB Rumors:
Rosenthal's Latest: Yankees, Teixeira, Bradley, Furcal — By Nat Boyle [December 14 at 12:08pm CST] — Ken Rosenthal has his latest article up. Let's go through it. — Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees are aiming to keep their payroll lower than last season.
Associated Press:
K-Rod to NL East foes: Mets are ‘team to beat’ — NEW YORK — Francisco Rodriguez has a message for the Philadelphia Phillies and the rest of the NL East. — “Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat,” he said Saturday.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Philly.com, Oriole Post, Bottom9 Baseball and The700Level.com
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Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Francisco Rodriguez from the mountain top — CARACAS, Venezuela - The harrowing series of switchbacks snakes upward, winding past secluded mansions in the Alta Hatillo section of Caracas, a scene that could be straight out of the HBO hit show “Entourage.” — High up in these hills …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
K-Rod promises to bring the heat — Closer says velocity will return after changeup experiment — NEW YORK — Not that it's an excuse, because there's little reason to excuse success, but Francisco Rodriguez claims he knows precisely why his fastball has lost a little zip.
Discussion:
Cubs f/x
Steve DeClue / Examiner:
Teixeira to attend Ravens game — Free agent first baseman and Severna Park native Mark Teixeira will be a guest of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos at today's Ravens-Steelers game, according to ESPN. — Orioles fans have been desperate for any sign of hope with the organization …
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Peter Schmuck / The Schmuck Stops Here:
Teixeira rumor control — There's a rumor flying around that Mark Teixeira is in the Baltimore area and will attend the Ravens game today as a guest of Peter Angelos. This would be very nice if it was true, but I can't confirm it and I have serious doubts.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Cashman paying the price — Out of sheer desperation, Brian Cashman has had to go back to the free-agent pitching well, where he hasn't fared too well as Yankee GM. He should only hope now that $161 million over seven years for CC Sabathia and $82.5 million over five years …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Newsday:YANKEES: A.J. headed for Bronx
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Pinstripes, Pa., River Avenue Blues, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, iYankees and Sliding Into Home
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Farnsworth, Royals agree to deal — Two-year, $9.25 million contract includes club option for 2011 — The Royals' bullpen now has its hard-throwing right-hander. — Kansas City announced on Saturday that it had agreed to terms with Kyle Farnsworth on a two-year, $9.25 million deal that includes a club option for 2011.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Many big bats remain available for Tampa Bay Rays — Leaving Las Vegas, the Rays felt pretty good about their chances to add a big-name big bat to their lineup. They have reason to feel even better now that Raul Ibanez has agreed to a reported three-year, $30-million deal with the Phillies.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Nelson keeping his options open — Reliever a free agent after not being tendered by Marlins — MIAMI — Even though the Marlins didn't tender reliever Joe Nelson a contract on Friday, the team did leave the door open for a possible return. — Shortly after the non-tender deadline passed …
Yahoo! Sports:
Orioles part ways with RHP Cabrera — Buzz up! — BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles have finally given up on pitcher Daniel Cabrera. — The club on Saturday declined to tender a contract to the righthander, allowing him to become a free agent.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Okajima running in Honolulu Marathon — It really is a marathon, not a sprint. — Under rainy and wet conditions, Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima is running in today's 36th Honolulu Marathon. At the halfway point (13.1 miles), Okajima's chip time was 2:48:35. At the 30k checkpoint (18.6 miles), Okajima's time was 4:16:41.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Patrick / NPB Tracker:
Free Agency Watch: Kawakami, Takahashi, Saito — Today's free agency updates... - According to Nikkan Sports, Boston is preparing a 3-year, $7m deal for Kenshin Kawakami. Not an official offer yet, but the numbers sound right. Sponichi has the Braves and Brewers also getting in on Kawakami.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, 24 Hours From Suicide, Mets Fever, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Whither Smoltz? Who is Kawakami?
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MLB Rumors
