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ESPN:
Blyleven: Health Silva's biggest question — Which Carlos Silva are the Chicago Cubs getting in the Milton Bradley trade? — Is he the one who was a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter with the Minnesota Twins, who averaged 193 innings from 2004-07? Or will he be the Silva of the past …
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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 …
Discussion:
Sabernomics, Chicago Breaking Sports, Lookout Landing, Beyond the Box Score, Hardball Times, NESN.com, The Heater, Twinkie Town and Angels blog
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley is going down — Last week at the winter meetings, the Chicago Cubs and Mariners discussed a possible Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley swap. — “Not happening,” a top Mariners official said afterwards. — Well, it is happening now.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:Cubs, Mariners Swap Bradley For Silva
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, The Real Dirty Mets Blog and Sports Blog Net
ESPN:Chicago Cubs trade Milton Bradley to Seattle Mariners for Carlos Silva
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:Cubs look like biggest loser in problem swap with Mariners
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
In Signing Nick Johnson, Yankees Turn Johnny Damon Away — The fourth game of the World Series was tied, 4-4, with two outs, no base runners and a 1-2 count on Johnny Damon in the top of the ninth inning last month in Philadelphia. With one more strike, the Phillies would have come to bat …
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
New York Yankees finalize one-year deal with Nick Johnson to replace Johnny Damon — The Yankees Friday finalized a one-year, $5.5 million deal with first baseman-DH Nick Johnson, effectively ending Johnny Damon's run in pinstripes. — The deal will not be officially announced until sometime next week …
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 / Blogging The Bombers:Say goodbye to Johnny, say hello to Nick
Discussion:
The iYankees Blog, The Yankee Universe, Replacement Level …, YanksBlog.com, Circling The Bases, Bats and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Here's an idea: Mets should trade Santana — By all accounts, the Mets are getting closer to wrapping their long, desperate tentacles around Jason Bay, but they're keeping their options open in case he bolts to the mystery team that's (supposedly) offering a five-year deal.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Inbox: Should Wright play first base? — Mets beat reporter Marty Noble fields fans' questions — I love watching David Wright make highlight plays at third base, but he also makes a lot of errors. With the need for a first baseman, the Mets could solve that problem with moving Wright to first.
Discussion:
Mack's Mets
Kevin Dame / Hardball Times:
Visual Baseball: Seattle Mariners Rank-o-meter — With the additions of Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins and “Meltdown” Bradley, there's been a surge in Mariners hype. Those who aren't quite ready to hand them the AL West crown point to their weak offense. Here's a look at that offense via the Rank-o-meter.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rincon returning to Rockies — Reliever to compete for roster spot during Spring Training — DENVER — Veteran right-handed pitcher Juan Rincon agreed to return to the Rockies under a Minor League contract and will compete for a roster spot this spring, according to a Major League source.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Michael Hurley / NESN.com:
Jacoby Ellsbury Proves Defensive Statistics Are Essentially Meaningless — Let's get this out of the way early: I am fascinated by baseball statistics. — I'm not alone in that category, as thousands of people dedicate their lives to crunching numbers, all in the name of the game.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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 …
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