Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Lowell trade is off — Rangers discover he needs surgery — Don't toss away your Mike Lowell jersey. For now, the third baseman is staying with the Red Sox. — Lowell was found to have a torn ligament in his right thumb during a physical conducted by the Rangers yesterday in Arlington …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Lowell trade is off — Mike Lowell will have surgery on his right thumb after it was determined he has a torn radial collateral ligament. The surgery will take place shortly after Christmas, with the recovery time approximately 6-8 weeks. The diagnosis means the trade between the Red Sox and Rangers …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Hendry could land in Capps-Byrd seat — WHAT'S NEXT FOR CUBS? — With Milton Bradley gone and the Cubs' offseason in full gear, where does the team go from here? — Some believe the team will strike quickly to fill their two primary needs — center field and setup reliever …
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Fox Sports:
Too many closers, not enough jobs — For some closers, the free-agent game of musical chairs is not likely to end well. — Too many of 'em are on the market. Not enough well-paying, ninth-inning jobs remain. — Two more closers — Pirates righty Matt Capps and Nationals righty Mike MacDougal …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Ryan Dempster likes Milton Bradley trade — Chicago Cub starter thinks Carlos Silva will help club — Stan Mikita catches and pitcher Ryan Dempster, delivers the first pitch at the opening of “The Rink at Wrigley” by the Chicago Cubs on the parking lot of Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, December 19, 2009.
Yahoo! Sports:
What does Johnny Damon do now? — About 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon at Boras Corp. in Newport Beach, Calif., the phone rang and the New York Yankees made their only official contract offer to Johnny Damon — It was for $14 million over two years, which was double - in terms of length and value …
Discussion:
Confessions of a She-Fan
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Potential trade consequences can run deep — Do you break up what is pretty close to a dream rotation? — You've got Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. You've got veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield as a spot starter in case someone needs rest or is injured.
Marksheldon / Mark My Word:
Rolen signs extension — The Reds and 3B Scott Rolen have restructured his contract and have extended him for two more guaranteed seasons. Rolen's new contract will pay him $23.625 million through the 2012 season with a $5 million signing bonus that is deferred over the next three seasons without interest.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Red Reporter, Bluebird Banter, Redleg Nation, Circling The Bases, Yahoo! Sports and MLB Rumors
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Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:Source: Cincinnati Reds, Scott Rolen agree to restructuring of contract
Discussion:
Sports Blog Net
Jason Reid / Redskins Insider:
Sources say Gray interviewed for Redskins' head-coaching job — Defensive coordinator Greg Blache did not interview for the Redskins' head coaching position but secondary coach Jerry Gray did, league sources confirmed today. — A ProFootballTalk.com report stated Blache interviewed …
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Athletics close to deal with Crisp — Outfielder coming off injury-shortened 2008 season — The A's are close to signing veteran outfielder Coco Crisp to a one-year deal worth between $4.5 million and $5 million, according to an ESPN.com report citing multiple sources.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
‘Evaluating Baseball Managers’: Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda — Evaluating Baseball Managers: A Comprehensive History and Performance Analysis, 1876-2008 is going to be as big as it sounds. Author, history instructor and Hardball Times veteran Chris Jaffe sent me sample …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
