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:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors, SOX & Dawgs, Circling The Bases, Union-News, NESN.com, MLB FanHouse and Full Count
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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.”
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Bay tops Epstein's free-agent priorities — Boston would like slugging left fielder to return next season — BOSTON — The past few weeks have been mostly about planning, dialogue and research for the Red Sox's front office, led by general manager Theo Epstein.
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
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, Fox Sports, MLB Rumors, Seattle Times, Hardball Times, Angels blog and McCovey Chronicles
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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.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets vow to spend on free agents, but how much, whom? — Omar Minaya must cast a wider net to see how he can repair a fractured team that went 70-92 this season. — In a perfect world, one — without payroll restrictions, the Mets could splurge on free agents to solve all of their most pressing needs.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Top 30 free agents, plus New York specials — Here are my annual top 30 free-agent rankings and predictions. — I tried something different this year with the rankings, relying solely on WAR.I liked the idea of using one consistent metric, and also displaying which of this free-agent pool …
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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Associated Press:
Bud Selig planning fewer breaks in playoff schedule — CHICAGO — Baseball plans to cut down on off days during the postseason next year. — Commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday he's working on tightening up the 2010 playoff schedule so there will be fewer gaps between games.
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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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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 …
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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 …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Patience a free-agent virtue for Braves — Club could look to open market to fill holes in 'pen, first base — ATLANTA — Last year, the Braves aggressively attacked the free-agent market in search of top-flight starting pitchers. As this year's free-agent season begins …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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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?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
