Top News:
Jayson Stark / MLB:
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 on Monday. — Matsui
Discussion:
New York Times, Bats, Yahoo! Sports, Fox Sports, Halos Heaven, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Jorge Says No!, New Jersey Online, The iYankees Blog, NESN.com, Generation Third, Circling The Bases, Lookout Landing, The Yankee Universe, Fanhouse MLB Blog, River Avenue Blues, YanksBlog.com and SBNation.com
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Phillies land 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 while shipping Cliff Lee to Seattle, pending a few final details, SI.com has learned. — Sources indicate Halladay …
Discussion:
The Seattle Times, The Good Phight, Amazin' Avenue, The Fightins, Batter's Box Interactive …, Beyond the Box Score, BronxBanterBlog.com, crashburnalley.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding, The700Level.com, Halos Heaven, Over the Monster, LA Times Sports Blog, The Big Lead, SBNation.com, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Phuture Phillies, NESN.com, Chicago Breaking Sports, Fanhouse MLB Blog, Sports Blog Net, Lookout Landing, WasWatching.com and 6-4-2
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 …
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Matsui Agrees With the Angels — Hideki Matsui and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a one-year contract, ending Matsui's seven-year run with the Yankees that culminated in a World Series Most Valuable Player award last month. — According to an official involved in the negotiations, Matsui agreed with the Angels on Monday.
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com, Heartland Pinstripes, Yakyu Baka, Circling The Bases, A Die Hard Yankees Fan, YanksBlog.com and 6-4-2
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Sources: Roy Halladay to Philadelphia Phillies, Cliff Lee to Seattle Mariners deal close — Trading Aces — It looks like the Phillies might be dealing one ace for another. It could still be an upgrade for Philadelphia, though, as Roy Halladay fared slightly better than Cliff Lee last season.
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.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Lackey agrees to 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 …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Phils, Ms, Blue Jays Agree On Halladay-Cliff Lee Blockbuster — 10:12pm: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun (via Twitter) has Toronto getting Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis D'Arnaud; Philly getting Roy Halladay and Phillippe Aumont; and the Mariners getting Cliff Lee, plus another piece (or, pieces).
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 …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Cameron, Red Sox closer — The Boston Red Sox are making significant progress toward a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Mike Cameron, a baseball source told ESPN.com on Monday. — Cameron — The addition of Cameron to play left field — coupled with Monday's $80 million-plus investment …
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
Howard Megdal / Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:
Mets May Win By Losing Halladay, Lackey
Mets May Win By Losing Halladay, Lackey
Discussion:
Mack's Mets
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.
ESPN:
Sources: Boston Red Sox offered Aroldis Chapman $15.5 million — Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman has an offer on the table from the Boston Red Sox worth $15.5 million, several sources told ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr. — The 21-year-old received the offer …
Discussion:
NESN.com
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Kevin Goldstein / Unfiltered:
Aroldis Chapman: D-Day? Done Deal? De-Valued?
Aroldis Chapman: D-Day? Done Deal? De-Valued?
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, Circling The Bases, Over the Monster, MetsBlog.com, Confessions of a She-Fan and MLB.com
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 …
Discussion:
NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK, Federal Baseball, The Nationals Enquirer and NationalsFanboyLooser