Top News:
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.
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Primer to the free-agent market, from Bay to Wagner … Free agency is finally here, less than a week before Thanksgiving. And the signings may not come so quick, either. — Baseball's powers are still arguing about the state of the game's economics, whether teams are losing money …
Michael Silverman / Clubhouse Insider:Red Sox inquire about Holliday, A. Beltre, M. Gonzalez, R. Ankiel
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:Luis Castillo's fate key to offseason moves for New York Mets
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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, Circling The Bases, Mike Silva's …, 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.
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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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Johnson wanted four-year deal — There will be no long-term contract for pitcher Josh Johnson with the Florida Marlins this winter, his agent said Friday. — Agent Matt Sosnick told ESPN.com that negotiations between the Marlins and Johnson have reached an “impasse,” and Johnson expects to play under a one-year deal in 2010.
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:
River Avenue Blues, MASNsports.com, DC Pro Sports Report, The iYankees Blog, MLB Rumors and Circling The Bases
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.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers taking a look at Halama — Former big league lefty playing in Dominican Republic — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers told John Halama's agent that they will have a scout in the stands for the former big league left-hander's start in the Dominican Republic on Friday night …
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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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?
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.
