Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Damon: Yankees haven't made offer — Johnny Damon wants everyone to know where negotiations between himself and the Yankees stand. — They don't. — “My friends and family are calling to tell me about this offer and what I want and it's all wrong,” Damon told The Post today.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, River Avenue Blues, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, MLB Rumors and The iYankees Blog
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankees offer minor-league contract, major-league deal, but Chien-Ming Wang parts ways with Bombers — Chien-Ming Wang had two 19-win seasons with the Yankees in 2006 and 2007, but hasn't been the same since suffering a foot injury in 2008. He will not be returning as a Bomber next season.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Wang would be an intriguing possibility — It's fun to look at the list of non-tenders and try and figure out who could help the Red Sox. It was this market, after all, that produced David Ortiz back in 2003. — But Ortiz is the anomaly. While there are some good names on the list …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Jays give Buck 1-year deal — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with free-agent catcher John Buck on a one-year, $2 million deal, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. — Buck was non-tendered by the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign John Buck — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year, $2MM deal with John Buck, pending a physical, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. — Buck was non-tendered yesterday by the Kansas City Royals. As Tim pointed out in our summary of the most interesting new free agents …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Olsen's deal incentive-heavy — Left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen, who became a free agent when he was non-tendered by the Nationals on Saturday, has agreed to terms with Washington on a one-year contract for a base salary of $1 million, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates release Capps after failure to reach deal — Team does not tender offer to closer, leaving him a free agent — The Pirates, in a stunning move, did not tender a contract offer to closer Matt Capps before the midnight deadline last night for all arbitration-eligible players and, thus, allowed him to become a free agent.
Discussion:
PBC Blog, Chicago Breaking Sports, Chicago's Inside Pitch, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Pittsburgh Lumber Co
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Bay rejects Sox' latest offer, willing to ‘move on’ — The negotiations between the Red Sox and left fielder Jason Bay have hit a roadblock and there may be no going back. — In some surprisingly strong rhetoric for this early in the process, agent Joe Urbon said yesterday that Bay is prepared to …
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Dan Hayes / North County Times:
PADRES: Correia agrees to $3.6 million deal — The Padres and pitcher Kevin Correia agreed to terms on a last-minute deal worth $3.6 million on Saturday night. — Had the Padres not signed Correia — or at least offered him arbitration — by 9 p.m., he would have become …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Tough players leave Yankees with a tough call — The last thing the Yankees wanted was to get old. — Which is why, when they had the chance to add a 28-year-old center fielder like Curtis Granderson, they pounced, knowing that Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui were getting long in the tooth …
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Tuesday could be Judgment Day for Chapman — Cuban left-hander to meet with clubs in Houston — It was thought that he was going to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason. Then the Winter Meetings went by without barely a peep about Aroldis Chapman.
Discussion:
Confessions of a She-Fan
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Sox Outfield has lots of room for Pierre — Leadoff man/OF would fill need at tolerable price — The Los Angeles Dodgers have been handcuffed a good part of this offseason because of the well-publicized divorce involving owner Frank McCourt and the uncertainty of how it will play out.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers considering Buck at backstop — Veteran catcher available as Royals sign Kendall — ARLINGTON — You can add John Buck, now a free agent, to the list of catchers the Rangers are considering this offseason. — Buck became a free agent on Saturday night, when the Royals elected not to tender him a contract for 2010.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball