Top News:
Adam Hirshfield / NESN.com:
Jason Varitek to Exercise Player Option, Will Stay With Red Sox — The Red Sox declined to exercise their $5 million team option on catcher Jason Varitek on Monday, but that doesn't mean the longtime captain will be leaving Boston. — NESN learned on Monday night that the 37-year-old Varitek …
Discussion:
Full Count, SOX & Dawgs, Red Sox Monster, MLB Rumors, Circling The Bases, Over the Monster, Babes Love Baseball and MetsBlog.com
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Varitek still waiting — Just spoke to Theo Epstein. Contrary to a report, Jason Varitek has not yet exercised his $3 million player option for 2010. At least as far as the Sox know. — As Epstein correctly pointed out, Scott Boras usually pushes such decisions until the deadline.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees plotting to keep Damon, Pettitte, Matsui — CHICAGO — The Yankees are strategizing ways to retain all three of their major free agents — Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui — sources told The Post. — Damon and Pettitte are the priorities.
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Executives chime in on offseason topics — Sign Holliday or Bay? Should instant replay be expanded? And where will Lackey land? — ESPN.com — CHICAGO — Major League Baseball general managers have a demanding job marked by long hours, stifling pressure and constant second-guessing.
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Mets Merized Online, Angels blog, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / Surfing The Mets:
Holliday, Bay bidding may surpass Mets' appetite — Omar Minaya arrived at the GM Meetings at the O'Hare Hilton on Monday night maintaining it was his obligation to investigate the price tags of top-tier free agents. However, a team insider told the Daily News he expected that the salary demands …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks eye 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 up all their plans as yet …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:Omar Minaya on slugging, and Kenny Williams on Hideki Matsui
Discussion:
Unfiltered
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.
Discussion:
Seattle Times, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, AaronGleeman.com, Bronx Baseball Daily, Hot Foot, A Die Hard Yankees Fan, Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay, Lookout Landing, U.S.S. Mariner, Texas Rangers, Circling The Bases, Sliding Into Home, Fack Youk, River Avenue Blues, Hardball Times, Pinstripe Alley and Replacement Level …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Unloading Milton Bradley without paying steep price won't be easy for Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry — Even if Cubs eat salary, Hendry may struggle to find taker for OF — Cubs general manager Jim Hendr shakes hands with Milton Bradley. (M. Spencer Green, Associated Press / January 8, 2009)
RELATED:
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Breaking Sports:Cubs' Billy Williams: Don't give up on Milton Bradley
Discussion:
MVN
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.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, Dodger Divorce, MLB FanHouse, True Blue LA and Memories Of Kevin Malone
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Maybin's shoulder surgery a success — Center fielder expected to be ready by Spring Training — MIAMI — Down the stretch, Cameron Maybin was hindered by a sore left shoulder. — The Marlins center fielder addressed the issue on Monday. — Maybin, 22, underwent surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins giving Penn another look — With righty's addition, Florida's 40-man roster at 34 — MIAMI — The Marlins are planning on taking another look at right-hander Hayden Penn. — The team on Monday announced it had selected the contract of the 25-year-old, who spent most of the season at Triple-A New Orleans.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Phils still in the running for Halladay — CHICAGO - Ruben Amaro Jr. arrived at the annual general managers' meetings late this afternoon and listed his priorities for upgrading his team this off-season. — “Third base, bullpen, bench,” the Phillies' GM said in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton, where the meetings run through tomorrow.
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Time to bring Ken Griffey Jr. back in 2010 — All signs are pointing to Ken Griffey Jr. signing for another season in Seattle. Why not? — Just bring him back. — Ken Griffey Jr.'s future will likely be decided in the next few days, as agent Brian Goldberg resumes discussions with the Mariners.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Bill Mitchell / Baseball America:
Veal Deals In AFL — Rule 5 pickup encouraging Pirates — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Scorpions pitching coach Bob Milacki had never seen Donnie Veal pitch before the Pirates lefthander arrived for the Arizona Fall League season. He had read the scouting reports on Veal and knew …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Rap Sheet:
Can rookie Sebastian Vollmer end the Matt Light Era at left tackle? — It's an old dilemma for a coach. For Patriots fans and coach Bill Belichick, it goes back to up-and-coming Tom Brady vs. franchise QB Drew Bledsoe, circa 2001. — An established veteran goes down with an injury …
