Top News:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Sox near deals with Penny, Bard — The Red Sox are nearing an agreement with free-agent righthanded starting pitcher Brad Penny, according to baseball sources. The one-year deal would be worth $5 million, with $3 million in performance bonuses believed to start at approximately 160 innings pitched.
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Sox to sign Penny — Bard also in sights as backup catcher — Although it might not compete with the big-money, big-name signings by the Yankees in recent weeks - and certainly not with the more than $400 million the Bombers have spent in the offseason - the Sox are set to fill one of their open spots with a more modest acquisition.
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Red Sox agree with Brad Penny, Josh Bard — The Red Sox [team stats] have an agreement in place with pitcher Brad Penny that will be finalized tomorrow, a source confirmed tonight. — The one-year deal will have a base salary of $5 million. Incentives and performance bonuses can increase …
Discussion:
The Bottom Line, wicked clevah, MetsBlog.com, Sox and Pinstripes, Fire Brand of the …, iYankees and Sliding Into Home
Rob Bradford / WEEI Blogs:
Penny confirms deal — Brad Penny confirmed to WEEI.com that he has reached a preliminary agreement with the Red Sox on a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 million, which was first reported by FoxSports.com. The contract has the potential to reach a total of $8 million for the year with incentives.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Penny may bolster Boston's rotation — Right-hander made 17 starts in injury-plagued '08 with Dodgers — BOSTON — When it comes to free-agent starting pitchers, it almost always has been Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's choice to pass up lucrative, long-term deals in favor of low-risk, high-reward solutions.
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Red Sox strike deals with Brad Penny, Jason Bard — Moving to improve their depth on the mound and behind the plate, the Red Sox [team stats] have agreements in place with right-hander Brad Penny and catcher Josh Bard, according to an industry source. — Penny's deal, which will be finalized …
Baltimore Sun:
O's, Hendrickson agree on contract terms — Looking to increase their pitching depth, the Orioles have agreed to terms with free-agent left-hander Mark Hendrickson, who will take a physical this week to finalize the deal, according to team sources. Terms of the deal aren't known.
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Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com:
Hendrickson could be an Oriole very soon (updated) — The Orioles are close to reaching an agreement with free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson, and an annoucement could be made early this week pending the results of a physical. — Update: Hendrickson definitely will be in Baltimore this week to take his physical.
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Hendrickson, O's close to agreement — Reported deal with lefty could be finalized early this week — BALTIMORE — The Orioles may soon start patching one of their biggest holes. MASNsports.com reported Sunday night that Baltimore is close to reaching an agreement with left-hander Mark Hendrickson …
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
The drama index — The other day, I wrote about something I called the Season Leverage Index. The idea is simple: I want to quantify how much more important victories in September are compared to victories in April. — After the fact, of course, they're not more important at all.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets keeping starting options open — NEW YORK — The Mets ought to have a better read about their projected starting pitcher rotation by the end of the week. — They intend to make offers early this week to at least two and probably three free-agent pitchers — Derek Lowe …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Todd Jones / Sporting News:
Money won't buy the Yankees a championship — First there was CC Sabathia. No one thought too much about that signing. The Yankees usually act like the spoiled only child who threatens to hold his breath until he gets what he wants. They wanted pitching, so they signed him.
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
A MAN BEHIND THE TIMES — As the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers for only four years, Mark Attanasio is a mere babe in baseball. Like many players, he might not know what came before him. Baseball life, to Attanasio, began in 2005. — He could be excused, then, for not realizing the storm …
