Top News:
ESPN:
Five questions that will define offseason — Thoughts on how Red Sox will fill key holes as they build for 2010 — What follows are their answers: — Gammons: In the end, I think they will re-sign Bay, for somewhere in the four year, $64 million range. It's difficult to read who will compete with them.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Ortiz says Sox need to power up — He seems to think pleas went unheeded last year — David Ortiz is among the players the Red Sox want to report in better shape next spring. (Aram Boghosian/For The Globe) — David Ortiz suggested around this time last year that the Red Sox needed more power in their lineup.
Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:Red Sox inquire about Holliday, A. Beltre, M. Gonzalez, R. Ankiel
Chicago Breaking Sports:
Cubs explore Bradley deal that would net Castillo — The Cubs continue trying to find ways to move Milton Bradley in packages that would bring them second baseman Luis Castillo from the Mets. The latest, according to sources, is a three-team deal with the Rangers that would send send …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers, Mike Silva's …, Circling The Bases, The Real Dirty Mets Blog and The 'Ropolitans
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Hot Stove Blog:
Rangers won't do three-way Bradley deal — According to one report, the Rangers, Cubs and Mets are discussing a three-way trade. — The deal has the Rangers sending Kevin Millwood to the Mets, who would trade second baseman Luis Castillo the Cubs. To complete the trade, the Cubs would send Milton Bradley to the Rangers.
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Wilpons should be honest and look ahead to 2011 — Going after free agents can't change Mets' dire situation. — Photo credit: Craig Ruttle | Omar Minaya should have a blank check from owner Jeff Wilpon, right, but can the Mets actually sign any difference-makers?
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:Luis Castillo's fate key to offseason moves for New York Mets
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Diamond Notes:
Chien-Ming Wang interested in the Dodgers — Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, a non-tender candidate, told Taiwanese reporters Thursday that his first choice was to remain with New York. But if the Yankees cut him loose, Wang said he would not be opposed to going to the Dodgers.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Chien-Ming Wang Open To Dodgers — Chien-Ming Wang appears open to pitching for the Dodgers if the Yankees cut him loose, according to a Taiwanese report passed along by Diamond Leung. Reporters brought up the Dodgers idea and Wang replied, “Not bad” and talked about his comfort pitching for Joe Torre.
Keith Law / ESPN:
Ranking the top free agents (Nos. 1-10) — STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today … Who's better: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday or John Lackey? And where do the Cubans fit in? For Keith Law's free-agent rankings and scouting reports, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Discussion:
The iYankees Blog, River Avenue Blues, MASNsports.com, DC Pro Sports Report, MLB Rumors and Circling The Bases
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Second Cy Young is historic — (11-19) 21:28 PST — Giants starter Tim Lincecum, one of baseball's most dazzling and charismatic players, made history Thursday when he won baseball's highest pitching honor, the Cy Young Award, for a second consecutive season.
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MLB.com:
Pirates Claim Chris Jakubauskas Off Waivers from Seattle — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have claimed right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jeff Karstens has been designated for assignment.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals ink Campillo to Minors deal — Righty missed most of 2009 with shoulder tendinitis — KANSAS CITY — Right-hander Jorge Campillo, a World Baseball Classic teammate of Kansas City closer Joakim Soria, has signed a Minor League contract for 2010 with the Royals.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Seven added to 40-man roster — The Yankees added seven players to the 40-man roster this afternoon in preparation for December's Rule 5 draft. — RHP Hector Noesi — RHP Ivan Nova — RHP Romulo Sanchez — INF Reegie Corona — INF Eduardo Nunez — INF Kevin Russo — OF Austin Jackson
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Indians Top 11 — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Four More: — 12. Jess Todd, RHP: Todd is a short, squat reliever acquired from the Cardinals, and one who reached the big leagues in short order, but his ceiling is probably as a seventh-, maybe eighth-inning set-up man.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Carrie Muskat / Hot Stove Blog:
11/20 Cubs & Blue Jays talk re: Halladay — The Cubs are one of the teams the Blue Jays have contacted regarding pitcher Roy Halladay. However, before Cubs fans start salivating at the prospect of the former Cy Young winner in the rotation with Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Ryan Dempster, there's a catch.
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Houston Astros Top 10 Prospects — Houston Astros … Want to build a farm system overnight? One glance at Baseball America's organization talent rankings suggests a proven template. — The Rangers went from 28th entering 2007 to fourth in 2008 to first in 2009, getting a boost …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies Atkins awaiting “another team” — Clint Barmes represents the future, the Rockies initiating discussions on a multiyear contract this week. — Garrett Atkins represents the past, though the Rockies will not release him today when 40-man rosters are set, providing additional time to work out a trade.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Create your own team of free agents — Here's a fun exercise to kill some time at work today before the weekend: Create a team out of the free agents on the market. — Now that the free agents are able to negotiate with any team out there, theoretically a wretched team like the Royals …
Sports Illustrated:
Sky Andrecheck>INSIDE BASEBALL — Behind the Scoreboard: Inequities of the free-agent ranking system … In most industries, being ranked among the top 20 percent of performers would be an honor, and you would be in line for a raise. Not in Major League Baseball.
