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
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
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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.
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.
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 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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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?
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Ortiz says the Sox need more power — David Ortiz held a little get-together with the media this morning to discuss his upcoming charity golf event in the Dominican Republic. He has an impressive guest list that includes Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Lowell, newly married Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard …
TSN.ca:
ANGELS RETAIN COACHING STAFF FOR 2010 — Sports Network — Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced on Thursday that American League Manager of the Year Mike Scioscia's entire coaching staff will return for the 2010 season.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
