Top News:
NY Daily News:
Yankees land Javier Vazquez in deal with Braves that sends Melky Cabrera, two prospects to Atlanta — The Yankees are bringing pitcher Javier Vazquez back to the Bronx... Javier Vazquez is coming back to the Bronx. — The Daily News has learned that the Yankees will acquire …
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ESPN.com:
New York Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez from Atlanta Braves for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn … The New York Yankees have acquired right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-hander Mike Dunn. — The move pushes the Yankees' payroll for next season to more than $200 million.
New York Post:
Yanks working hard to get Vazquez — The Yankees are working hard to re-acquire Javier Vazquez from the Braves, the Post has learned. — Vazquez had arguably his best season as a major leaguer last season, going 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA. He is due $11.5 million next season.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Mike Silva's …, Fack Youk, Cardinal Beat, Full Count, NESN.com, Angels blog and 6-4-2
Howard Megdal / MLB Rumors:
Yankees, Braves Agree To Vazquez Deal — 9:50am: Buster Olney of ESPN.com hears that the Yankees will send $500K to the Braves as part of the deal. Olney does not mention Vizcaino in the report, but O'Brien tweets that he is in the deal. — 9:43am: Sherman tweets that the deal is done.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks land Vazquez in 5-player deal with Braves … The Yankees have reached an agreement to acquire Javier Vazquez in a five-player deal with the Braves, SI.com has learned. — The deal would send Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn and a prospect to Atlanta.
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
And behind door number 3 ... The Yankees began this offseason by making a strong trade for an outfielder, Curtis Granderson. Then, last week, they completed a deal for Nick Johnson (that's still being finalized) which shored up the DH spot left open by Hideki Matsui's departure.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Jason Bay not out of view — Sox, Yanks waiting — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — When the Red Sox [team stats] locked up John Lackey last week, they cleared the board of the best starter in the free agent market. — Nearly a week later, the two best free agent position players …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster, Fox Sports, MetsBlog.com and Circling The Bases
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Lowell clarifies thumb situation — Speaking by phone from Orlando, Mike Lowell clarified the history of the thumb injury that ultimately led to the cancellation of the trade that would have sent him and $9 million to Texas for minor league catcher/infielder Max Ramirez.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
AP source: Mets nearing agreement with R.A. Dickey — NEW YORK — The New York Mets are nearing agreement on a minor league contract with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. — The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal was not yet complete.
Fox Sports:
Source: Mariners to send Morrow to Jays — The Mariners still are not finished. — In their latest move, they have reached a tentative agreement on a trade that would send right-hander Brandon Morrow to the Blue Jays, according to major-league sources. — In return, the M's …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Blue Jays To Acquire Brandon Morrow
Discussion:
MLB.com, Lookout Landing, The Seattle Times, Miked Up, Bluebird Banter and baseballmusings.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The price you pay — The AP collected the final 2009 payroll numbers. You can figure the payroll out in a number of ways. They go with the 40-man roster and include pro-rated shares of signing bonuses, earned incentive bonuses, non-cash compensation, buyouts of unexercised options and cash transactions.
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Florida Marlins:Florida Marlins out of Matt Capps mix; rank last in final payrolls
Discussion:
FishStripes
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Nationals sign Marquis to two-year deal — Through two years of epic losing, the Washington Nationals had both a clear deficiency (they lacked a quality veteran pitcher) and a clear objective (they needed to find one). More specifically, the Nationals needed a veteran who could anchor …
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ESPN:
Source: Angels, Rodney negotiating — The Los Angeles Angels are in serious discussions with free-agent right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Tuesday. — Rodney, 32, posted 37 saves in his first full season …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Yankees Top 11 Prospects — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Four More: — 12. Corban Joseph, INF: A gritty infielder with a good approach and a line-drive bat, Joseph still generates questions about his ability to stay at an up-the-middle position.
Discussion:
A Die Hard Yankees Fan
Associated Press:
New York Yankees charged with $25 million luxury tax penalty for 2009 — NEW YORK — Winning came with a hefty price for the New York Yankees. — The World Series champions were hit with a luxury tax of nearly $25.69 million Monday, the penalty for once again crossing the payroll threshold …
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — Transactions reports may be sporadic during the holiday season, so we leave you with a gift. — Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here. — Arizona Diamondbacks — Signed: RHP Rodrigo Lopez
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jimmie Johnson / Yahoo! Sports:
Tossing around the pitching market — Baseball allows itself one week off a year, the time between Christmas and New Year's when husbands and wives reintroduce themselves to spouses and children, and so the days leading up to this self-imposed vacation tend to be hectic.
