Top News:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
2010 Top 50 Free Agents — It's time for the fourth annual MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 Free Agents list! The entire list of available free agents can be found here. — A note before we begin - this is a complicated puzzle, and I'll be satisfied if I'm correct on a quarter of these guesses.
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Sports Illustrated:
Beyond the big three free agents, trades may be where the action is … CHICAGO — No team is going to spend or presumably improve via free agency like the Yankees did last winter, when they doled out $423.5 million to three star players alone. Post-parade, and as the GM meetings get underway …
New York Post:
Mets desperate for power bat, but face competition — CHICAGO - Omar Minaya has told several of his friends in the industry that he badly wants to add a run-producing bat at either first base and/or left field. — He is not alone, however. The Yankees and Red Sox both have left field issues …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Cards expect little action at GM meetings
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Wakefield, Sox renegotiating — In the wake of a back injury that required Tim Wakefield to have offseason surgery, the pitcher and the Red Sox are close to finalizing a two-year deal that would give Wakefield the chance to become the club's all-time leader in victories.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox pick up V-Mart option — CHICAGO — It does not come as a surprise, but it's pleasant news for Red Sox fans nonetheless. — Victor Martinez is officially under contract for next season. — The club has exercised its $7.1 million 2010 option for the 30-year-old catcher/first baseman, according to his agent Alan Nero.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:Sox decline option on Gonzalez
Discussion:
Full Count, MVN, SOX & Dawgs, The House That Dewey Built, Sports Blog Net, MLB FanHouse, Over the Monster, MLB Rumors and NESN.com
Bruce Miles / Daily Herald:
Stripped-down GM meetings set to open at O'Hare — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — With a nod toward the tough economy, baseball's general managers will give up opulence and luxury for practicality when they convene for their annual meetings, beginning today at O'Hare.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
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Roy Halladay / Toronto Star:Griffin: Plenty of suitors in chase for Roy Halladay
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Phillies Top 10 Prospects — Philadelphia Phillies … The first Philadelphia entry in the National League, known as the Quakers, went 17-81 way back in 1883. The franchise became the Phillies in 1890 and took 25 years to win its first pennant. Before the franchise captured …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
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Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Mom of former pitcher Zambrano kidnapped — Abduction took place early on Sunday in Venezuela — The mother of former Major Leaguer Victor Zambrano was kidnapped in Venezuela, The Associated Press reported Sunday. — Zambrano's agent, Peter Greenberg, told the AP that Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Victor Zambrano's mother kidnapped in Venezuela — The mother of former major league pitcher Victor Zambrano was kidnapped Sunday, Zambrano's agent Peter Greenberg said late Sunday night by phone. — Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano was abducted sometime Sunday morning from her son's farm …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
THE DEAL HUNTERS — Is Milton Bradley still here? — Yeah, and he's holding up some of the decisions the Cubs might make as the hot-stove season gets started in earnest with the general managers meetings this week at the O'Hare Hilton. — But the flip side for the Cubs is that (1) …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:After getting rid of Milton Bradley, Chicago Cubs have 3 priorities in offseason
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Mark Shanahan / Boston Globe:
Artful Dodgers, bleeding, blue — Here, Frank and Jamie McCourt were a formidable team. In LA, their second act may be just about up — Jamie McCourt (far left) and Frank McCourt (far right) at a Dodgers playoff game against the Phillies. (Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images)
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts, Circling The Bases, LA Observed, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and 6-4-2
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals covet a catcher as the next step in offseason overhaul — The next step in the Royals' offseason makeover is to acquire a catcher before Dec. 12 and therefore provide an alternative to offering a contract to arbitration-eligible John Buck. — “We led all of baseball (last season) …
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, MLB Rumors, Royals Review and FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers have trade chips in pitchers — Plenty of teams need starters, and Texas seems stacked — ARLINGTON — The Rangers may be in the unusual position of being able to trade starting pitching this offseason. — The Rangers normally go into a winter looking for pitching …
