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.
Discussion:
Mariners blog, MVN, Bless You Boys, Mack's Mets, Yawkey Way Academy, TedQuarters.net, It's About The Money, The Real Dirty Mets Blog, Bronx Baseball Daily, Camden Chat, Mike Silva's …, Sliding Into Home, Sports Blog Net, Kranepool Society, MetsBlog.com, Boston Globe, YanksBlog.com, MASNsports.com and The 'Ropolitans
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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 …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees looking at free agent Lackey … CHICAGO — The world champion Yankees have top free-agent pitcher John Lackey on their free-agent shopping list, sources said. The Yankees aren't expected to be as aggressive this winter on the free market as last offseason and they haven't firmed …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Cards reiterate interest in retaining Holliday
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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Roy Halladay / Toronto Star:Griffin: Plenty of suitors in chase for Roy Halladay
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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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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 …
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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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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
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) …
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 …
