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:
MLB Rumors, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs, Full Count, MetsBlog.com, Over the Monster, Babes Love Baseball and Boston Globe
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 …
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.
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.
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 …
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
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, A Die Hard Yankees Fan, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Hot Foot, Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay, Texas Rangers, Circling The Bases, Sliding Into Home, River Avenue Blues, U.S.S. Mariner, Fack Youk, Hardball Times, Lookout Landing, Pinstripe Alley and Replacement Level …
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 …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, The iYankees Blog and The Yankee Universe
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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.
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)
Discussion:
The 'Ropolitans
RELATED:
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Breaking Sports:Cubs' Billy Williams: Don't give up on Milton Bradley
Discussion:
MVN
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Omar Minaya on slugging, and Kenny Williams on Hideki Matsui — The Mets' contingent has arrived, and from talking to them, there's a level of frustration concerning the mediocre free-agent pool. To paraphrase the legendary Steve McCroskey of the “Airplane!” movies, it looks like the Mets picked the wrong year to have so many needs.
Discussion:
Unfiltered
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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.
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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
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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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 …
Jeff D'Alessio / Sporting News:
Rockies G.M. Dan O'Dowd named SN's executive of year — Had he not made the most agonizing move of his 27 years in baseball — firing his friend and manager, Clint Hurdle, after the Rockies' 18-28 start — Dan O'Dowd might be collecting unemployment right now.
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
Examiner:
Top 15 high school MLB draft prospects — It's no secret that the biggest difference between last year's prep class and this year's prep class is the number of premium lefthanded pitchers available. In last June's draft, five southpaws - Tyler Matzek (Rockies), Matt Purke (Rangers …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
