Top News:
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Third time is charming for MVP Pujols — Cardinals slugger unanimous selection for NL honors — ST. LOUIS — This wasn't an announcement. It was a coronation. Then again, a case could be made that the entire 2009 season fit that description for Albert Pujols.
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Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA.com:
2009 NL MVP — It's Unanimous: Cardinals' Albert Pujols Wins Again — St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was a unanimous choice in winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
It's unanimous: Albert Pujols wins third MVP award — As he explained why he would intentionally walk Albert Pujols even when baseball tradition and accepted strategy screamed not to, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre offered a seven-word defense of his action: “Albert is in a class by himself.”
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Many contenders, one favorite for NL MVP — Fielder, Hanley in the running, but Pujols the likely choice — No, the “P” in MVP doesn't stand for Pujols. — It might seem that way in the National League, with the Cardinals' super-slugger having won the NL Most Valuable Player Award …
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
NY Yankees will focus on own free agents before jumping into market — NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday that the team intends to address their own free agents before wading into the rest of the free agent pool. — “I don't want to make the mistake of having …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
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ESPN:
Yankees' spring plans for Joba, Hughes — The Yankees are planning to go to spring training with Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain being programmed to start. “They can always go from starting to the bullpen, but it's tough going the other way,” says Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Lynn Henning / Detroit News:
Miguel Cabrera joins Tigers' trade talks — Opening bids for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson have plainly been underwhelming, or Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager known for a fast trigger-finger, would by now have dealt at least one of two star players on the block during …
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ESPN:
The market for Miguel Cabrera — The Tigers are in cost-cutting mode and they are willing to discuss a possible trade of Miguel Cabrera, writes Lynn Henning. — Set aside, for a moment, the off-field incidents in which Cabrera was involved during the last couple of months of the regular season …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels and Dodgers look into acquiring Toronto's Roy Halladay — Both clubs are interested in the ace right-hander, although the possibility of the Dodgers landing him is called ‘a long shot.’ — Roy Halladay, a 32-year-old right-hander, has a 148-76 record and 3.43 earned-run average in 11 big league seasons.
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Dylan Hernandez / LA Times Sports Blog:Dodgers: Halladay acquisition looking unlikely
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Circling The Bases and Dodger Thoughts
MLB.com:
Braves agree to terms with pitcher Juan Abreu — Right-hander added to Club's 40-man roster — ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms on a Major League contract with six-year minor league free-agent pitcher Juan Abreu. Formerly of the Kansas City Royals system …
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Brian Hamilton / Chicago Tribune:
Jimmy Clausen involved in altercation outside a South Bend, Ind., bar — Source says Notre Dame QB suffered a black eye — Jimmy Clausen avoids a sack by Connecticut's Twyon Martin and Jesse Joseph. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images / November 21, 2009) — As a tumultuous season draws …
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Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins have MVP catcher, but will they keep him? — For those Twins fans fearful that this year's MVP award will make it more difficult to keep Joe Mauer past 2010, General Manager Bill Smith tried offering some soothing words Monday. — “Do you think if he finished second, the price was going to come down?”
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Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
Mets take ‘first’ look at veterans — The Mets continue to look at potential one-year platoon options at first base, reportedly checking in yesterday with well-traveled Russell Branyan and Nick Johnson. — Branyan, who turns 34 next month, is coming off a year in which he hit .251 …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers sign Capuano, Halama — Pair of lefties looking to make Major League comebacks — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers picked up a pair of veteran left-handers for depth on Monday, re-signing former All-Star Chris Capuano and adding newcomer John Halama to the organization on Minor League contracts …
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John Perrotto / Baseball America:
Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects — Pittsburgh Pirates … After Neal Huntington became Pirates general manager late in the 2007 season, it didn't take him long to understand what the organization needed: young talent and lots of it. Pittsburgh not only had a bad major league team …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Hernandez, SNY reach an agreement — Commentator to remain with club, network through 2011 — NEW YORK — The Mets have assured themselves of being an entertaining enterprise next season by agreeing to a contract with a skilled first baseman and hitter of significant resume. — Keith Hernandez is coming back.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, 24 Hours From Suicide, TedQuarters.net and The Mets Police
