Top News:
Jorge Arangure Jr / MLB:
Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman throws for scouts in Houston — Fomer Cuban national team starting pitcher Aroldis Chapman threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Houston in front of representatives from 15 major league teams. — On Tuesday morning at the Baseball USA complex …
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Gene Duffey / MLB.com:
Chapman holds impressive workout — Representatives from the Majors get first glimpse of hurler — HOUSTON — Aroldis Chapman, the unsigned 21-year-old pitcher from Cuba, threw a bullpen session Tuesday morning for about 50 Major League scouts, impressing them with his size and velocity.
Randy Moss / Yahoo! Sports:
Chapman unveils 97 mph fastball for suitors — For the dozens of baseball men wondering whether Aroldis Chapman's official unveiling was worth the trip, the left-hander had an emphatic, 97-mph answer with his final pitch. — Sure was. — Executives and scouts came out of Tuesday's 30 …
ESPN:
Sources: Halladay, Phillies reach deal … Roy Halladay and the Phillies have come to an agreement on a contract that would put in motion a three-team trade that would send the Toronto Blue Jays ace to Philadelphia, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Halladay was taking his physical Tuesday morning, sources said.
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Jim Salisbury / CSNPhilly.com:Getting Close: Phillies, Halladay Agree on Extension
Discussion:
The Seattle Times, The Fightins, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Sports Illustrated and Phillies Nation
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Contract language delays Lackey deal — The Red Sox and Steve Hilliard, the agent for pitcher John Lackey, are in the final stages of finalizing a five-year, $82.5-million contract, but it's being held up as the sides work out language that would protect the Red Sox from a pre-existing medical issue.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, Jorge Says No!, 3:10 To Joba, SOX & Dawgs, The Joy of Sox and MLB Rumors
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Boston Herald:
Mike Cameron in fold; Jason Bay likely out — Say goodbye to Jason Bay and hello to Mike Cameron. — Now sit down, because guess who has contacted Bay? Yes, the Yankees. — The Red Sox [team stats] last night agreed to terms with Cameron on a two-year deal, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
White Sox acquire OF Pierre from L.A. — The Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Juan Pierre and cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers. — Pierre said he's ecstatic to get an opportunity to possibly play every day after being in Manny Ramirez's shadow with the Dodgers.
Discussion:
Memories Of Kevin Malone, Hardball Times, Sabernomics and The Bronx View Yankees Podcast …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
White Sox Acquire Juan Pierre — 11:44am: The Dodgers will choose two pitchers from a list of arms that could contribute in the majors next year, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The teams will complete the trade on or before January 7th, 2010, according to a Dodgers press release.
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:Juan Pierre's departure is good for the Dodgers
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:White Sox get Pierre, cash from Dodgers in trade
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Cards leaning to 5-year offer — The Cardinals continue to talk about re-signing outfielder Matt Holliday, and in their internal deliberations, the intention is to stand on a five-year offer, sources said. — It's always possible the Cardinals could alter their offer to Holliday, and add to it.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, Yankeeist, Circling The Bases, The iYankees Blog, MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
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David Waldstein / Bats:
Mets Near a Deal With Ryota Igarashi — The Mets are close to signing Ryota Igarashi, a Japanese pitcher, to a two-year deal, according to a person briefed on the situation. Yes, they need an outfielder to hit in the middle of the batting order and another starting pitcher, but they also needed to improve their bullpen.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
A closer look at Tom Hicks' Texas Rangers decision — Staff writer Evan Grant examines Tuesday's Rangers developments: — What does Tuesday's decision mean? — It means that Tom Hicks' Hicks Sports Group has agreed to enter into exclusive negotiations with the investment partnership headed …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Source: Greenberg Group Selected by Hicks for Texas Rangers — 9:30pm - Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports that Greenberg has a 45 day exclusivity window with which to complete the sale. Interesting in that the window for the Cubs sale for Thomas Ricketts was set at 30 days …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Marquis interested in Nationals — Right-hander went 15-13 with 4.04 ERA for Rockies in '09 — Last week at the Winter Meetings, it was revealed that the Nationals had interest in free-agent right-hander Jason Marquis. It turns out that the feelings are mutual.
