Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Phillies reach deal to get Halladay, send Lee to Mariners — The Phillies are in agreement on a three-team trade with the Mariners and Blue Jays to acquire star pitcher Roy Halladay, SI.com has learned. All indications are that Cliff Lee will likely be heading from Philadelphia to Seattle in the trade.
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ESPN:
Source: John Lackey agrees to 5-year deal with Boston Red Sox … The Boston Red Sox have reached a tentative deal with right-handed pitcher John Lackey, pending a physical, worth slightly more than the $82.5 million, five-year contract A.J. Burnett signed with the New York Yankees last year …
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Source: Los Angeles Angels in serious talks with DH Hideki Matsui — The Los Angeles Angels are in serious discussions with Hideki Matsui about supplanting Vladimir Guerrero as their designated hitter, a source familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN.com. — Matsui
Fox Sports:
Sources: Jays, Phils talk Halladay-Lee blockbuster — Roy Halladay is in Philadelphia and may be a Phillie soon, according to major-league sources.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Phils, Ms, Blue Jays Agree On Halladay-Cliff Lee Blockbuster — 3:17pm: In an article, Heyman notes that Halladay's extension “is expected to be a formality” (though it may not be done today). Heyman appears certain that an agreement has been reached on a Phillies/Jays/Mariners deal that will net the Phils Halladay.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox, John Lackey Reach Agreement — 2:55pm: Heyman says the Red Sox and Lackey are in agreement in a five-year, $85MM deal. — 1:41pm: Yahoo's Tim Brown has an Angels source who believes they're still in the running for Lackey and the pitcher has not accepted a Boston offer.
Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Halladay and agent in Philadelphia — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay and his agent have checked into a Philadelphia-area hotel, according to two Inquirer sources. — It is not known if a trade sending Halladay to the Phillies is imminent, but if Halladay and the Phils are negotiating …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Lackey near 5-year, $85 million deal with BoSox … Top free agent pitcher John Lackey is said to be in agreement on a five-year, $85 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, sources say. Lackey has scheduled a physical with the team. — Lackey's deal with the Red Sox is similar to the $82.5 million …
ESPN.com:
Report: Roy Halladay dealt to Philadelphia Phillies in 3-team swap
Report: Roy Halladay dealt to Philadelphia Phillies in 3-team swap
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
George A. King III / New York Post:
With Lackey close to Red Sox deal, Yankees likely to back off Halladay
With Lackey close to Red Sox deal, Yankees likely to back off Halladay
Kevin Goldstein / Unfiltered:
Aroldis Chapman: D-Day? Done Deal? De-Valued? — One of the biggest scouting events of the year takes place tomorrow when Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman will hold a workout for interested teams in Houston. For several teams, this will be the first opportunity to see Champman throw since the World Baseball Classic.
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, Circling The Bases, Confessions of a She-Fan, MetsBlog.com, Over the Monster and MLB.com
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
New York Yankees eye Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets to potentially fill in rotation — Even after bringing back Andy Pettitte and tendering contracts to Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre, the Yankees are looking for more pitching. — Brian Cashman is looking to add at least one more starter …
Charlie Devereux / New York Times:
Venezuelan Children Flock to See Santana on His Trip Home — TOVAR, Venezuela — The residents here like to tell the story of how a scout, impressed by Johan Santana's performance at a junior national tournament, drove 10 hours to this small coffee-growing town 6,400 feet up in the Andes to knock unannounced on his parents' door.
Discussion:
Mack's Mets, New Jersey Online, Circling The Bases, Fack Youk, BronxBanterBlog.com and MetsBlog.com
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Top 100 players of the decade — Tough call between Pujols and A-Rod for the top spot. The problem is, who's next? — ESPN.com — When making a list like this — the 100 greatest players of this decade, which by the way I've officially and irreversibly dubbed “the 0's” — it's easy to look at statistics.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Wang not in hurry to sign amid rehab — While a number of teams have already reached out to pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to express interesting in signing the former Yankee, it's possible that he won't sign for months, according to his agent, Alan Nero. — Wang
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Flores overjoyed with signing of Pudge — Young catcher expecting to learn a lot from veteran, idol — Catcher Jesus Flores was overjoyed when he learned that the Nationals signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year, $6 million contract last week. — Flores, 25, idolized …