Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
Busy Mariners obtain Bradley from Cubs for Silva … The Mariners and Cubs reached agreement on a deal that would send outfielder Milton Bradley to Seattle in exchange for pitcher Carlos Silva and $6 million, SI.com has learned. — The money, which will be paid out over two years …
RELATED:
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Shocker: Mariners trade Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley — The Seattle Mariners have found a way to get rid of one of their last lingering problems. The club today traded Carlos Silva, who still has two years remaining on the four-year, $48 million contract given him by former general manager Bill Bavasi …
ESPN:
Chicago Cubs trade Milton Bradley to Seattle Mariners for Carlos Silva … The Mariners and Chicago Cubs have announced a trade that sends outfielder Milton Bradley to Seattle for right-handed pitcher Carlos Silva. — According to sources familiar with the deal, the Mariners will send …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs & Mariners Swap Bradley & Silva — 12:50pm: In a press release of their own, the Cubs say they're getting cash from the Mariners as part of the deal. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says the M's are sending $9MM to Chicago, which would save the Cubs $6MM.
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Mariners officially announce Milton Bradley-Carlos Silva trade — The deal is done. Carlos Silva has been traded, along with cash, to the Chicago Cubs for Milton Bradley. Unbelievable turn of events. — “We have been looking to add offense to our club and in Milton have a player …
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:Cubs look like biggest loser in problem swap with Mariners
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Say goodbye to Johnny, say hello to Nick — Johnny Damon's run in pinstripes has come to an end. — The Yankees are inching toward an agreement with Nick Johnson on a one-year, $5.5 million deal to become the team's new DH, which would mark the end of any chance for Damon to return for fifth season in pinstripes.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, Bats, The iYankees Blog, MLB Rumors, YanksBlog.com, The Yankee Universe and Replacement Level …
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees give Johnson one-year deal; Damon moving on — Nick Johnson is back and Johnny Damon says so long. — The Yankees agreed with Johnson on a one-year deal worth $5.5 million with another $1 million in incentives that will become official after he passes a physical Monday.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:Nick Johnson's one-year deal with New York Yankees likely spells end …
George A. King III / New York Post:Yankees move closer to DH deal with Johnson
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Jorge Says No!, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Beyond the Box Score, The Yankee Universe, Boston Globe, NY Daily News, U.S.S. Mariner, DRaysBay, Lone Star Ball, Bronx Baseball Daily, NESN.com, River Avenue Blues, Yankeeist, Respect Jeter's Gangster, The iYankees Blog, YanksBlog.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Sports Illustrated:
Mets might have to battle ‘mystery’ team in Bay derby, plus more notes … Jason Bay reportedly has a mystery team bidding on him. But beyond the Mets, who remain keenly interested and in touch with his agent Joe Urbon, nearly all of Bay's market is remains mystery at this point.
RELATED:
Joe McDonald / Providence Journal:
Lowell-to-Texas deal hits snag over possible thumb injury — Now that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has locked down a starting pitcher and an outfielder in John Lackey and Mike Cameron, the GM's next order of business is Mike Lowell. — The Sox and the Rangers are in the midst …
RELATED:
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Source: Mike Lowell likely to have physical this weekend for Texas Rangers — DALLAS — Mike Lowell has not had a physical yet with the Texas Rangers, but that will likely happen this weekend, according to a major league source. — The Boston Red Sox and Rangers have worked out the framework of a deal …
Discussion:
Boston Red Sox Blog
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Vazquez unlikely to waive no-trade clause — Angels have interest, but hurler can veto deal to West team — ATLANTA — A Major League source has confirmed that it is highly unlikely Javier Vazquez would provide the Braves clearance to trade him to the Angels.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Sign Javier Lopez — The Pirates signed left-hander Javier Lopez, according to a team press release. Lopez struggled through 11.2 innings with the Red Sox last year, but enjoyed success with them before that. The 32-year-old pitched to a 2.70 ERA with Boston from 2006-08, allowing fewer hits than innings pitched.
Tim Ott / MLB.com:
Season's best claim TYIB Awards — Stars Mauer, Greinke, Jeter among fan favorites for 2009 — We set up the ballots, and once again, the fans spoke loud and clear in naming this past season's best hitters, pitchers, performances and moments in the 2009 MLB.com This Year in Baseball Awards.
Will Lingo / Baseball America:
Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects — Baltimore Orioles … The 2000s were a decade to forget for the Orioles. But they finally can see enough legitimate big leaguers in place or on the horizon to believe there's hope for the future. — Since Baltimore won the American League East …
The Big Lead:
ESPNLA.com Has Assembled Quite a Team [UPDATED] — A source has leaked us the staff for the new ESPNLA.com team, and Eric Neel, the site's managing editor, has assembled a talented group of writers. ESPN has done some serious poaching, allegedly stealing writers from the LA Times, LA Daily News, and Sports Illustrated.com.
Matthew Pouliot / Circling The Bases:
Stubborn Francoeur has a ways to go — Matthew Cerrone has a fine interview with sabermetric whipping boy Jeff Francoeur over on Metsblog.com, where you can watch the video or read the text. I'll just post the first question and response, since it was the one most interesting to me:
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Interview: Me and Francoeur, on Stats, Leadership & Fans
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
