Top News:
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.
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Wakefield, Sox Agree on New Two-Year Deal — The Red Sox have chosen not to pick up Tim Wakefield's $4 million option for the 2010 season; instead, the team and the pitcher have come to terms on a two-year deal. The new contract will pay the 43-year-old a guaranteed $5 million …
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Red Sox Decline $5 Million Option on Varitek — CHICAGO — The Red Sox declined their one-year, $5 million option for the 2010 season on catcher Jason Varitek, according to a major-league source. Now, Varitek has five days to decide whether to exercise his one-year, $3 million player option …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox throw Wakefield a change-up — The Red Sox did some cost-cutting with Tim Wakefield today according to sources. Rather than pick up his $4 million option for 2010, they signed him to a $3.5 million deal. He also will get a $1.5 million deal for 2011 that includes incentives.
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.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:Red Sox make it all official
Discussion:
The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
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.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Mariners blog, MVN, Bless You Boys, Mack's Mets, Yawkey Way Academy, TedQuarters.net, It's About The Money, Bronx Baseball Daily, Camden Chat, The Real Dirty Mets Blog, Sliding Into Home, Mike Silva's …, Sports Blog Net, Kranepool Society, MetsBlog.com, YanksBlog.com, MASNsports.com, The 'Ropolitans and Boston Globe
RELATED:
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 …
Ed Price / MLB FanHouse:
MLB Free-Agent Compensation ‘Elias Rankings’ Released — CHICAGO — The annual Elias rankings are out, determining which free agents could result in draft-pick compensation for their former teams. — Free agents are classified as Type A, Type B or not at all.
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.
RELATED:
Roy Halladay / Toronto Star:Griffin: Plenty of suitors in chase for Roy Halladay
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
The Heater:
Tampa Bay Rays decision on option for LF Carl Crawford, and others, could come soon — View Photo Gallery: All-Star Carl Crawford — While the Tampa Bay Rays have already made some moves to shore up their 2010 roster (like re-signing RF Gabe Kapler), they have more decisions …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Mark Cuban says he'd be interested in buying the Dodgers — Cuban says he'd base a decision on his ability to buy a controlling share as part of an ownership group. The Dodgers are not for sale, but the McCourt divorce raises questions about team's future.
Brad Hawpe / New York Post:
Rockies hoping to move Hawpe — CHICAGO - The Rockies will listen to offers for outfielder Brad Hawpe, who has one year left on his contract plus a team option for 2011. — Hawpe, who made the All-Star team last year, is scheduled to make $7.5 million in 2010 but he had a terrible second half, batting .240 with 27 RBIs.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Gonzalez might put Padres in a bind — First baseman trade bait if no long-term contract — With Jake Peavy gone, Adrian Gonzalez has become the face of the Padres. — An extremely popular personality on both sides of the border, the 27-year-old native San Diegan has also blossomed …
