Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Henry: ‘We are not going to be a factor’ for Teixeira — Red Sox owner John Henry e-mailed several media members late tonight with a stunning twist in the team's pursuit of free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. — Henry's words: “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him.
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WCVB-TV:
Sox May Be Closer To Signing Teixeira — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox may be close to signing Mark Teixeira, the premiere free agent available this off-season. — SportsCenter 5's Mike Lynch reported that team owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, Projo Sox Blog, MASN Online, WEEI Blogs, Hot Foot, Nationals Journal, Angels blog and Sliding Into Home
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Angels close to re-signing Juan Rivera — Buzz up! — The Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night were nearing agreement with outfielder Juan Rivera on a three-year contract, according to baseball sources. — And as news spread of a meeting between their No. 1 offseason target …
ESPN:
Sources: BoSox closing in on signing Teixeira … The Boston Red Sox have taken strides toward completing a deal for first baseman Mark Teixeira, major league sources indicated on Thursday evening, to the point that team executives may have face-to-face negotiations with Teixeira's representative, Scott Boras, in the forthcoming hours.
Discussion:
Washington Post, PE Angels Baseball, Angels blog, Newsday, Federal Baseball, WEEI Blogs, MLB Rumors and Scott Proctor's Arm
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Reports: Sox in Texas meeting on Teixeira — If the latest reports are correct, the Mark Teixeira saga may be nearing a conclusion. — Channel 5 (WCVB-TV) reported that Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Larry Lucchino, and GM Theo Epstein were in Texas tonight to meet with Mark Teixeira's agent …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
General feeling is Sox — They're perceived leaders on Teixeira — One of the general managers involved in the Mark Teixeira negotiations was asked last night, “Are you still in it?” He answered, “I honestly don't know.” — Evidently, Teixeira's final landing spot has become a mystery to some of the people involved.
Discussion:
ESPN, Mets Fever, MLB Rumors, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, River Avenue Blues, iYankees, Over the Monster, MLB FanHouse, Baltimore Sun, YFSF and Angels blog
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Reports: Red Sox meeting with Boras about Teixeira — Boston officials, Mount St. Joseph alumnus' agent having face-to-face negotiations in Texas; team reportedly offering 8-year, $184 million deal — If several reports prove to be true, the Orioles might not be bringing free-agent …
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Oriole Post
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:Red Sox still look like front-runners to win the Teixeira Sweepstakes
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Angels blog
George A. King III / New York Post:LITTLE MANNY CHATTER
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JSOnline, NJ.com, MLB FanHouse, Bats, MY BASEBALL BIAS, NY Daily News, New Jersey Online and Yankees Blog
Jeff Schultz / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Livid Schuerholz: Furcal dealings ‘despicable’ — Braves' president says team will never do business with player agency again — If Rafael Furcal's decision to renege on a verbal agreement with the Braves was the biggest jolt of the team's dreadful winter, this must be the aftershock.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox look like front-runners for Teixeira (cont.) — Furcal's unusual double play — The Braves thought they had a “gentleman's agreement” on a deal for Rafael Furcal for $30 million and three years and are said to be “frustrated” that he went to the Dodgers for the same terms after they say his agent agreed with them.
Yankees Blog:
Girardi says Pettitte wants to return — According to Joe Girardi, Andy Pettitte wants to rejoin the Yankees. — “I talked to him recently and he is still excited about coming back,” Girardi said today of Pettitte, who hasn't accepted the one-year, $10 million deal on the table from the Yankees.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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JSOnline:
Brewers sign Nixon, Duffy — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Looking for ways to get some left-handed bats on their roster, the Brewers have decided to take a look at former Boston standout Trot Nixon. — The Brewers just announced that they have signed the 34-year-old outfielder …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
A Look At The 2010 Free Agent Class — By Tim Dierkes [December 18 at 1:19pm CST] — Since it's more of a reference, I didn't allow comments on our 2010 MLB Free Agents post. This post will be the place for readers to comment on these players, who we'll be talking about constantly a year from now …
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Boone signs one-year deal with Astros — Veteran infielder likely to platoon with Blum at third base — HOUSTON — The Astros on Thursday signed third baseman Aaron Boone to a one-year contract, pending a physical. — Boone fills the Astros' need for a utility infielder who has extensive experience at third.
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Ex-Giants infielder Lance Niekro launches comeback, as a knuckleballer — (12-18) 14:07 PST — Twenty years have passed since a Niekro threw a knuckleball in a major-league game. Lance Niekro, the longtime Giants infield prospect, now hopes to become the next to keep the family craft alive.
Dirk Hayhurst / Baseball America:
Non-Prospect Diary — Japan Calling, Please Hold — You can dominate the Triple-A level and not move up. It's a cruel reality in baseball, but reality none the less. — It could have nothing to do with your performance; maybe the guy above you is just that much better?
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies sign pitcher Rusch to one-year deal — Continuing to address their need for left-handed relievers, the Rockies on Thursday signed Glendon Rusch to a one-year, $750,000 minor-league deal today. — Rusch made it clear he wanted to return to Colorado after enjoying a positive experience last season.
