Top News:
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Silver Sluggers a mix of old and new — Eight incumbents and eight first-timers among 2009 winners — The Silver Slugger Awards distributed early this evening went to a perfect mix of the old guard and new guard, as players with established reputations and others starting to earn theirs shared honors …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Jeter, Teixeira win Silver Slugger Awards — After winning Gold Gloves, Yanks duo gets another honor — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira will have more keepsakes to add to their trophy cases from the 2009 season. Both Yankees were announced on Thursday as American League Silver …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Ethier, Kemp claim Silver Slugger honors — Kemp adds to trophy case day after winning Gold Glove — LOS ANGELES — One day after the Dodgers had two Gold Glove winners, it was announced that they had two Silver Slugger winners. — Outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier received honors Thursday …
Discussion:
Memories Of Kevin Malone
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:Jays have Silver Sluggers at their core
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Andy Soltis / New York Post:
Former Yankee Wetteland hospitalized for ‘mental’ issue — Former Yankees World Series MVP John Wetteland was rushed to a hospital today after police responded to his Texas home for a report of a possible suicide. — Cops from the Denton County sheriff's office rushed to the 43 year-old …
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KTVT-TV:
Former Pitcher John Wetteland Hospitalized — BARTONVILLE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Police activity in Denton County has led to a former Major League Baseball pitcher being taken to a Denton-area hospital. — Former Rangers pitcher and current Seattle Mariners Bullpen coach John Wetteland …
New York Post:
Cops summoned to rescue Yanks' 1996 Series hero — John Wetteland — MVP of the 1996 World Series for the Yankees — was rushed to a hospital yesterday after police responded to a woman's frantic call from his Texas home that he might have been suicidal. — Cops rushed to the 43-year-old …
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Could Trade Doumit — The latest update from Ken Rosenthal's and Jon Paul Morosi's blog at FOX Sports indicates that the Pittsburgh Pirates are willing to trade Ryan Doumit. — Rosenthal and Morosi hear that multiple teams asked about Doumit's availability at this week's GM meetings …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees could try to make deal for Granderson — Tigers may try to move All-Star outfielder, who hit 30 homers last year and is only 29. — The Tigers' cost cutting has — altered the landscape of the baseball industry, as the Yankees now will investigate another intriguing option in Detroit's Curtis Granderson.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays' Ruiz selected as Triple-A All-Star — Career Minor Leaguer's production earns Topps' honor — TORONTO — Randy Ruiz swung a powerful bat after an August promotion to Toronto, quickly becoming a favorite among Blue Jays fans with his feel-good story.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jim Thome still open to returning to Chicago White Sox — Wherever free agent winds up, he says Chicago will be his home — Regardless of the White Sox's intentions this offseason, Jim Thome plans to make Chicago his home. — And if the Sox can find a way to squeeze Thome into their plans, he can settle down permanently.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Brian Windhorst / Plain Dealer:
LeBron James planning to give up No. 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan, urges others to do same … Miami — Basking in the glow of a victory over the Heat, Cavs superstar LeBron James looked over at his idol sitting in the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday night and made a command decision.
New York Post:
Jeter plays a Bronx bummer for movie — Give that man an Oscar! — No, Derek Jeter hasn't blown through his fortune al ready — he's playing a be draggled bum in a movie. — The Yan kees captain and five-time world cham pion is play ing a fictionalized version of himself in the upcoming …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
The significance of the Mauer market — The agent for Joe Mauer wouldn't characterize the state of the catcher's negotiations with the Twins on Thursday, or discuss them in any way, which isn't a surprise. That's not really Ron Shapiro's style. We are accustomed to hearing a lot …
Nick Steiner / Hardball Times:
All about the high inside fastball — What exactly is a high inside fastball? — “Well, duh, Nick. A high inside fastball is a pitch that is high and... wait for it... inside, hence the name. You don't seem to be very sharp, I think I'm going to stop reading now.”
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The Matsuzaka Plan takes shape — Theo Epstein said the other day in Chicago that Daisuke Matsuzaka would return to the United States well before spring training and embark on a conditioning program. — Via old friend Gaku Tashiro of Sankei Sports, here's a little more information on that:
Associated Press:
Hudson agrees to 3-year deal to stay with Braves … ATLANTA (AP) — Tim Hudson agreed to a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, giving the team a wealth of starting pitching and setting up a likely trade to bolster the offense. — Hudson could have returned to the Braves under …
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman>DAILY SCOOP — More ColumnsEmail JonFollow Jon Heyman on — Cries of poverty ring through GM meetings (cont.) — 7. Judging Roy. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos wisely said he has no objection to making trades within the division, and presumably that includes a deal for the pitcher he called …
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