Top News:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Yankees' Damon remains left out — There was a vacancy sign placed above left field at Yankee Stadium yesterday, but Johnny Damon's outlook on returning hasn't changed any. — On the same day the Yankees sent Melky Cabrera to the Braves as part of a deal that added Javier Vazquez to the starting rotation …
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Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Busy holiday season for Wren and the Braves — After making my 11-hour journey back home for the holidays yesterday, I learned that that yesterday's trade of Javier Vazquez had made many of you just as sick as my three female passengers, who had never previously been introduced to the twists …
NY Daily News:Brian Cashman lands Javier Vazquez for New York Yankees as New …
Discussion:
TedQuarters.net
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:A few more notes from today
Discussion:
It's About The Money, River Avenue Blues, Boston Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Manuel / Sports Illustrated:
Baseball's Top 20 Prospects … Baseball America's Prospect Handbookis going to press, and it's hard to describe the book to my non-baseball friends (a short list, but I have had a few such discussions). It's a book of 900 scouting reports on the game's top minor league players: 30 for each of the 30 major league organizations.
Fox Sports:
Source: Braves give Glaus one-year deal — The Braves have reached agreement on a one-year contract with free agent Troy Glaus to play first base, according to a major-league source. — The deal, which also includes incentives, is pending a physical, the source said.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Atlanta Braves, Troy Glaus in serious discussions, close to agreement — Free agent corner infielder Troy Glaus and the Atlanta Braves have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, a baseball source told ESPN.com on Wednesday. — Glaus must undergo a physical exam before the deal can be completed.
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Boston Red Sox Top 10 Prospects — Boston Red Sox … After winning the World Series in 2007 and losing in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series the following year, the Red Sox looked poised to make another title run in 2009. — They got off to a 51-34 start …
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Craig Calcaterra / Circling The Bases:
Source: the Pirates have made Octavio Dotel an offer — A source tells me that the Pirates have made an offer to Octavio Dotel to be their closer. The offer: $3 million plus games-finished incentives. Not a deal yet or anything, but it's out there. — Dotel has turned in back-to-back …
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Extend Offer To Octavio Dotel — 5:42pm: The Pirates have not offered Dotel a contract in the vicinity of $3MM, a source involved in the talks tells Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While there have been talks between the parties, there has been nothing “to that extent.”
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Los Angeles Angels, Fernando Rodney agree to 2-year deal — Former Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal pending a physical, a source told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas. — The physical examination is scheduled to take place later Wednesday.
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Red Sox talking about Bay return — According to a team source, the Red Sox have had internal discussions about extending their organizational budget to potentially allow for another offer for free agent outfielder Jason Bay. The discussed proposal to Bay would be in the vicinity four-year …
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Read: The Mets All-Decade Team of the 2000s — Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue has started his look at the Mets All-Decade Team for the 2000s, beginning with catcher Mike Piazza, who played six seasons, stepped to the plate nearly 3,000 times and hit 157 home runs.
Discussion:
TedQuarters.net
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
If “Baywatch” gets cancelled, here's eight options — For the Mets, there are already legitimate questions about whether Jason Bay is the right investment for their ballpark. He is a below-average defender who hits for power and Citi Field is a place where deep fly balls and subpar outfielders will suffer.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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MLB:
Sources say Washington Nationals, Matt Capps are close to one-year deal — The Washington Nationals are closing in on a one-year deal with Matt Capps, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Assuming the deal is completed, sources say that Capps — who was not tendered a contract …
Discussion:
The washington times Blogs, Baseball Beat …, Jorge Says No!, NationalsFanboyLooser, Federal Baseball, MLB.com and ESPN
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Delgado's return to action delayed — Without seeing him play, club may have less interest in veteran — NEW YORK — The Mets' interest in Carlos Delgado, an interest that was not shared by all members of the club hierarchy after the season, may begin to wane now that the free agent has postponed his return to active baseball.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
An option year on Lackey deal — The Red Sox built in a “conditional club option” at the minimum salary for the 2015 season into John Lackey's contract to protect them in case Lackey gets hurt, according to salary information obtained by Boston.com. — Highlights of Lackey's $82,791,426 deal include …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers President Dennis Mannion addresses state of the club — In a discussion of several topics, he says that the team's baseball and business decisions have not been impacted by the divorce proceedings between Frank and Jamie McCourt. — On Baseball — Randy Wolf never has been confused with Johan Santana.
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Jack Taschner agree to minor-league deal — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran left-handed reliever Jack Taschner to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. — The 31-year-old Taschner, who had a 4.91 ERA in 24 appearances …
