Top News:
Jorge Arangure Jr / ESPN:
Cuban defector Chapman fires agent — Cuban pitching phenom Aroldis Chapman has fired the representative who helped him gain free agency, his former agency confirmed Saturday. — Edwin Mejia, of Athletes Premier International, had represented Chapman soon after he defected from the Cuban national team in July.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The iYankees Blog, Boston Globe, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, River Avenue Blues and NESN.com
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Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Chapman fires agent; joins Hendricks Bros. — If you're looking for things that might help the Yankees end up signing Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, here's a tiny nugget: Chapman has dropped his original agent, Edwin Mejia, and joined up with Randy and Alan Hendricks, who represent - among others - Andy Pettitte.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News: Yankees & Red Sox battle for hard-throwing Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees can wait for Halladay — Talent, first. An ocean of coin to follow. — That's the price tag hanging around Roy Halladay's neck as the small collection of teams that can afford him hatch their plans to acquire arguably the best pitcher in baseball from the Blue Jays.
RELATED:
MLB:
Reports: Roy Halladay won't re-sign with Toronto Blue Jays — Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay does not want to resign with Toronto after his contract expires after the 2010 season, according to reports. — Team president and CEO Paul Beeston told the New York Post that Halladay does …
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Notes: Beltre, Delgado, Wolf, Blalock — The Orioles are positioned to be buyers in free agency, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun. GM Andy MacPhail says that the club is looking to spend this offseason, but there remains some skepticism in Baltimore …
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins' Johnson facing one-year deal — Seeking four years, ace forced to settle for short-term solution — MIAMI — A couple of conversations that lasted roughly a half hour appear to have changed Josh Johnson's long-term future with the Marlins. — Talks between the Marlins and Matt Sosnick …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Mets expand club presence at Citi Field — Parts of stadium will be re-named for influential Mets — FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets today announced plans to expand the presence of club history at Citi Field next season in a variety of ways including renaming areas of the ballpark after Casey Stengel …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, Circling The Bases, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, OnTheBlack.com and Sliding Into Home
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Former Yankees on the move — Last night, when I read that the Houston Astros had signed former Yankees minor league pitcher Jose Valdez, I assumed it was a minor league deal that might be worth a note at some point. Then I read on Mike Ashmore's blog that Valdez was added to the Astros' 40-man.
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Shelley not coming back to Yankees — Shelley Duncan was outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but that doesn't mean he'll end up there. — The first time a player clears waivers and is sent outright to the minor leagues, he has no choice but to accept the assignment.
Boston Herald:
THE WHISPERS — Many in the Cubs' front office think they would be foolish to give up Starlin Castro to get Curtis Granderson, but there are a lot of other ways to do the deal. General manager Jim Hendry appreciates all Granderson brings to the table, even though he has had trouble hitting left-handers …
Mike Klis / Denver Post:
Expect Simms to start vs. Chargers — Barring an overnight medical miracle that heals Kyle Orton's bum ankle, Chris Simms will be the Broncos' starting quarterback Sunday against the San Diego Chargers with sole possession of the AFC West lead at stake. — Simms has practiced all week.
