Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Bay declines BoSox's offer … Star free agent outfielder Jason Bay has declined Boston's initial contract offer and will head to full free agency, SI.com has learned. — Boston's offer to Bay was believed to be for four years and “close to $60 million,” according to sources.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, Fack Youk, MetsBlog.com, Circling The Bases, SOX & Dawgs, Bucs Dugout, NESN.com, MLB FanHouse, Union-News and Full Count
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Bill Shaikin / LA Times Sports Blog:
Arte Moreno: No to Matt Holliday, maybe to Jason Bay — Angels owner Arte Moreno spoke on a number of topics after the owners' meetings concluded today in Chicago. Among the highlights: — On Matt Holliday: “He is not going to be an Angel. We are not looking at Holliday at all.”
Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
SI's Heyman: Bay rejects Sox initial offer — Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman is reporting outfielder Jason Bay has rejected an initial offer from the Red Sox. — Heyman cites anonymous sources saying the first offer was for four years at “close to $60 million.”
New York Post:
Amazin's need to make big splash in offseason — THINK big. — General manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees got the memo last off-season and it resulted in the club's 27th World Championship. — You can be sure the Yankees still are thinking big this offseason, and that they are figuring …
David Lennon / Newsday:Mets vow to spend on free agents, but how much, whom?
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Lincecum's the one; that makes two Cys — Wainwright finishes third despite getting most first-place votes — SAN FRANCISCO — For Tim Lincecum, less was indeed more in 2009. — The San Francisco Giants right-hander won fewer games but added to his pitching legend.
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Why I picked Carpenter over Lincecum — (11-18) 21:30 PST — If Tim Lincecum wins his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award today, I will be happy for the lad. Lincecum is one of the best and most electric pitchers in the game and had another fantastic season.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, Fox Sports, Hardball Times, Seattle Times, Angels blog and McCovey Chronicles
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Heilman dealt for two prospects — Cubs receive pitcher Maine, infielder White from D-backs — CHICAGO — The Cubs dealt right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday for two Minor League prospects. — Heilman, 31, was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 games in his only season in Chicago.
Discussion:
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Chicago Breaking Sports:
Cubs, lefty reliever Grabow agree to 2-year deal — The Cubs and left-hander reliever John Grabow have agreed in principle to a two-year deal, team sources said today. — There was never any doubt that Grabow would return, but with the 15-day exclusivity window to re-sign …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs, Grabow near two-year deal — Veteran will continue to be team's top lefty setup man — CHICAGO — The Cubs are close to an agreement on a two-year contract with left-handed reliever John Grabow, securing a key player in the bullpen. — Grabow, one of five free agents on the Cubs …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs reach contract agreement with pitcher John Grabow — The Cubs and relief pitcher John Grabow have reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension that has been anticipated for weeks, a source confirmed this morning. — The deal, believed to be worth at least $7 million …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Bud Selig still isn't worried about the Dodgers — Commissioner won't discuss what the future might hold given the McCourts' divorce proceedings but says team is ‘in good hands.’ — Commissioner Bud Selig, right, refused to offer assurances to fans worried that the divorce saga involving Frank …
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers won't be pursuing John Lackey — Despite needing help in the pitching rotation, the club isn't looking to sign the veteran ace. President Dennis Mannion rules out ‘any outlandish-type decisions.’ — Dodgers President Dennis Mannion said the team isn't planning to pursue free-agent pitcher John Lackey.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds won't be busy in free agency — General manager Jocketty doesn't expect to be active — CINCINNATI — Free agency opens for business at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, and that means it will be buying season for all 30 clubs. — Don't expect the Reds to be busy free-agent shoppers, however.
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Frankie Piliere / MLB FanHouse:
Scouting Notes: Braves Shopping Pair of Arms, and Both Could Be Bargains — On the free-agent market, all the focus has been on John Lackey. On the trade market, the talk has been about Roy Halladay. The consolation prize for teams seeking a top-flight arm may come out of Atlanta.
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Sam Page / Amazin' Avenue:
A Study In Unintentional Hilarity — Update: hat-tip to user FlashFlood who sent in the question, Noble-bait of the year. — I swore I'd never make fun of another Marty Noble Mailbag Inbox. Patrick from Connecticut had other plans: … You feel that?
Discussion:
TedQuarters.net
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Robert Emrich / MLB.com:
Havens heats up as AFL winds down — Mets prospect scores three runs, raises average to .324 — Reese Havens is finishing his five-week stint in the Arizona Fall League on a roll. — The Mets' prospect fell a home run short of the cycle and scored three times Wednesday …
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Revenue sharing a mess — Why not just put a tax on teams that pocket the money they get from revenue sharing? — ESPN.com … The Yankees just won another World Series (as you might have heard someplace) — and we all know what that means: — The crying game is on. … Sound familiar?
