Top News:
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 …
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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.
New York Post:
Mets on fence about Bay, Holliday — CHICAGO — Philosophically, the Mets are still trying to determine whether to big-game hunt this offseason for offense (Jason Bay or Matt Holliday) or simply augment around their core of fragile, but talented players. — They intend to peruse …
Newsday:
The Mets, Roy Halladay, Matt Holliday and Pat Burrell — Wanted to quickly check in... The Mets will speak with the Blue Jays about the possibility of a Roy Halladay trade, just as they did last summer. While they know they're not the favorites, they're encouraged - somewhat, at least - by history.
New York Post:Strategy split hangs over Omar's survival
Discussion:
Newsday, FanGraphs Baseball, Mike Silva's …, New Jersey Online, MetsBlog.com and TedQuarters.net
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:HOT STOVE NOTES: Molina is Type A personality, a Pudgy alternative, Holliday vs. Bay
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Ichiro, Hunter win ninth Gold Gloves — Jeter returns to winning award for first time since 2006 — The American League Gold Glove winners, unveiled on Tuesday, showcase the cream of the league's defensive excellence, the ooh-and-aah squad. — The dive-and-spin, dirty-uniform parade began …
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Associated Press:
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira among AL Gold Glove winners … NEW YORK — Derek Jeter sure is stuffing his trophy case this year. — The steady Yankees shortstop won his fourth Gold Glove on Tuesday, joining New York first baseman Mark Teixeira among the American League players rewarded for fantastic fielding.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Are the Sox planning a spending spree? — So we're talking to Theo Epstein Monday afternoon and he mentions that restructuring Tim Wakefield's deal will save the Sox $1.5 million on the CBT, which is GM-speak for the payroll luxury tax, or collective bargaining tax.
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Circling The Bases, It's About The Money, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and MLB.com
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
No answer yet from Varitek — Theo Epstein said the Red Sox have not yet received word whether Jason Varitek will exercise his $3 million option for 2010. — The deadline is tomorrow. — Epstein will meet with Scott Boras this evening, so perhaps an answer will be procured then.
Victor Martinez / New York Post:
Mets could have interest in Varitek — CHICAGO — Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek has until Friday to accept or reject a $3 million player option. — Boston rejected its $5 million option and clearly signalled that Victor Martinez will be the starting catcher next season.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Branyan rejects Mariners' one-year offer — Slugger wants at least a two-year deal, hopes to be back — Free-agent first baseman Russell Branyan has rejected a one-year offer from the Mariners and though he still hopes to return to Seattle next season, he said he would rather test the market …
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Diane Pucin / LA Times Sports Blog:
Vin Scully on McCourts and other things — During the question-and-answer portion of the Newsmaker Luncheon, hosted by the Hollywood Radio & Television Society at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully addressed the situation between Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie McCourt.
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Fox Sports:
Latest buzz from MLB's GM meetings — CHICAGO - The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season. Thankfully, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi are on the ground in Chicago with all the latest gossip and buzz. Note: All times listed are ET.
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Chris De Luca / Inside the White Sox:Williams says no on Figgins deal; source says Pods talks back on
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
New York Post:
Damon won't give Yankees discount — CHICAGO - So much for the hometown discount. The Yankees have been hoping Johnny Damon's desire to stay a Yankee is great enough that he agrees to return on a one- or, at most, two-year contract. — However, his representative, Scott Boras …
David Waldstein / Bats:
Yanks' Cashman Won't Be Swayed — CHICAGO - Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman made it clear Monday that even if Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon had gone 20 for 20 in the World Series with 10 home runs apiece, it would not change the team's thinking about how it would deal with the two impending free agents.
Discussion:
Fack Youk, The iYankees Blog, bronxbanterblog.com, Seattle Times, Sliding Into Home and A Die Hard Yankees Fan
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:Yankees' Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon are free agents, but aren't gone just yet
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays exercise Carl Crawford's $10 million option — Carl Crawford, a three-time All-Star coming off arguably his best season, has said he's willing to talk about a long-term contract with the Rays. — Times] — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' decision Monday to lock …
ESPN:
Type A positive (and negative) — For years, the Elias Sports Bureau rankings that determined what kind of draft-pick compensation would be attached to free agents meant nothing to some teams. For many executives, a gained or lost pick meant little, so the rankings had little impact on the players involved.
