Top News:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels GM says focus is not on outfielder Matt Holliday — Tony Reagins says re-signing John Lackey and Chone Figgins remain the top priorities. Vladimir Guerrero and Darren Oliver are also still in play. — Free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday hit .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBI …
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Erik Boland / Newsday:
Cashman: Yanks won't dive right into free-agent pool — The Yankees' GM said he will be more deliberate this year with free agency than he was last offseason. — The moment free agency began — last offseason, Brian Cashman was off to the races, immediately dialing up CC Sabathia.
Bernie Miklasz / Bernie's 5 Minutes:
Bill DeWitt on Holliday, McGwire — Good morning... 1. Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. was a guest on my 101 ESPN radio show and said the team still plans to make a serious effort to sign Matt Holliday. DeWitt conceded that if a big-market franchise goes all-out to land Holliday, the Cardinals won't have a chance.
George A. King III / New York Post:
Bombers ‘nowhere’ on coaches — No Yankees coach except hitting instructor Kevin Long is signed for next year. And while the general feeling is that the rest of Joe Girardi's staff is wanted back, none has been offered a contract for 2010. — “We are nowhere,” GM Brian Cashman said when asked …
Discussion:
YanksBlog.com
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Greinke's performance may be AL Cy-worthy — KC ace shy on wins, but could have resume to top CC, others — A baseball season is like a garden, with stories blooming all over. But 2009 had no better, more inspiring or jaw-dropping story than the slim, blond right-hander who …
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
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Sky Andrecheck / Baseball Analysts:
MVP Award Balloting: Is It Fair? — The MVP and Cy Young Awards are closely upon us, and soon we'll know this year's choices. As you know, the balloting for these awards is done by two baseball writers from each city. I'll spare the indignation about why award choices are limited …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Minor League Free Agents — When we talk abut a player's value above replacement level, such as referring to stats like WAR, one of the questions that commonly arises is who these mythical replacement level players are. The best example of freely available talent - guys who can be had for nothing …
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THE GAME OF BASEBALL:
2009 Minor League Six-Year Free Agents — MLB released the list of the 2009 six-year minor league free agents. The Dodgers are the team with the most free agents (34), followed by the Marlins and the Mariners (32). — Among the 536 players declared FA, you can find some interesting names …
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Book excerpt: “Evaluating Baseball's Managers”—Billy Martin — For the next few weeks, THT will publish excerpts from Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008, which is scheduled for release in December, but can be ordered now. For a limited time, if you order it now you will get at no additional charge—new book smell!
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Coghlan is named NL's top rookie — Infielder-turned-outfielder stepped in and sparked Marlins — The franchise with a knack for producing some of the best young talent in the Major Leagues has another gem to add to its resume — Chris Coghlan. — That fact was evident through …
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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:Marlins' Coghlan, A's Bailey win rookie of the year honors
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Tyler Mason / MLB.com:
Twins unveil new unis for 2010 — New road, throwback digs set for Target Field's first year — MINNEAPOLIS — When the Minnesota Twins open the 2010 season at Target Field, they'll do so in new uniforms paying tribute to Minnesota ballclubs of old. — The Twins unveiled two new jerseys Monday …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
White Sox Top 11 Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Two-Star Prospects — Four More: — 12. Jhonny Nunez, RHP: Nunez has a 93-95 mph fastball and a very good slider, both of which should fit in a big-league bullpen, though he falls short of being the late-inning type.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
New York Mets eye durable free-agent pitcher Joel Pineiro — The Mets, in search of an innings-eater to stabilize their rotation, are particularly intrigued by free-agent righthander Joel Pineiro, according to a team insider. — Pineiro, 31, had 15 wins with the Cardinals in 2009 …
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Finding Bruntlett's Replacement — The Phillies have bigger fish to fry than finding Eric Bruntlett's replacement as the team's utility player — they're looking hard for a third baseman and bullpen help — but it certainly has its importance. It's especially important because they have nobody …
Brooklyn Met Fan:
What's the Over/Under on Backman to the Bigs Rumors? — Now that Wally Backman has been granted his long awaited second chance BMF has to wonder how long it will take for the Backman to Queens drums to start beating. — Under normal circumstances a minor league skipper managing in short season …
Christina Kahrl / Baseball Prospectus:
AL Rookie of the Year — A vote. A vote? A vote. — Being invited to help select this year's American League Rookie of the Year as a new member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America was an unexpected honor, and one I took seriously. By way of process, I started off …
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