Top News:
ESPN:
Sources: Cards optimistic about talks — There is increased optimism within the St. Louis Cardinals organization that the team is going to reach a deal with free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Tuesday. — Holliday
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Mets get Bay for 4 years, $66M — The Mets have reached agreement on a four-year, $66 million agreement with Jason Bay pending a physical, The Post has learned. — Mets officials refused to confirm the agreement, largely because the results of a physical are not complete and the Mets …
Mike Leach / Yahoo! Sports:
Bumbling Mets toss money into the Bay — Here the New York Mets go again, throwing money at a big-name free agent whom they misguidedly convince themselves will solve their troubles. The Mets' issues aren't skin deep. They penetrate the dermis, plunge deep into the organizational body …
Discussion:
It's About The Money
Fox Sports:
Source: Mets agree to deal with Jason Bay — The Mets have reached an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jason Bay, according to a major-league source. — The four-year deal is worth $66 million, with a vesting option for a fifth year, according to the source.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Cards intensify Holliday hunt — St. Louis reportedly offering outfielder $16M per year — In the afterglow of Jason Bay's agreement with the Mets, which could stretch to five years and about $80 million, the Cardinals reportedly have intensified their pursuit of their left fielder, Matt Holliday.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Jason Bay, New York Mets agree on multiyear deal — Free-agent outfielder Jason Bay has reached an agreement on a multiyear contract with the New York Mets, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com Tuesday. — The agreement will become official once Bay passes a physical exam, the source said.
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:The Yankees' Win Curve
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, Pinstripe Alley, The Yankee Universe, yankeesdaily.com, The iYankees Blog and SportSpyder.com
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Mets will sign Jason Bay, per WFAN
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …, MVN, We're the Team to Beat, Where Have You Gone … and Circling The Bases
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Boston Red Sox quietly engaged in Adrian Beltre talks — The Boston Red Sox remain quietly engaged in discussions for free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, according to an industry source. — The Beltre talks, expected to resume after the new year, have been complicated by the voiding of the Mike Lowell trade to Texas.
Discussion:
NESN.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Circling The Bases, Over the Monster and Mariners blog
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:Red Sox Remain Interested In Adrian Beltre
Discussion:
Respect Jeter's Gangster
John Frank / St. Petersburg Times:
Florida wants Grapefruit League to again rule spring training — Fans watch the Kansas City Royals play the Detroit Tigers in March 2002 at Davenport. The Royals are one of five teams that have moved their spring training to Arizona in the last decade. — TALLAHASSEE — For 100 years …
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Cuban pitcher wooed — With the A's poised to add their two-time All-Star back into the fold this morning, the team is now turning its attention to Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. — Oakland is in the thick of the bidding for the left-hander, according to major-league sources …
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Fox Sports:
McGwire doesn't make the cut, but nine others do — Nine. I can't believe I checked off nine players on my Hall of Fame ballot — and if I had voted for Mark McGwire, I would have reached the maximum 10 allowed. — Before I had a ballot, my definition of a Hall of Famer was strict …
Lisa Winston / MLB.com:
Gomez's perfection tops best of '09 — Richard, Chirinos, Bianucci, Rasmus also turn in huge efforts — It wasn't easy to select just one outstanding outing from an entire season of highlights but somehow we managed to do so. — We sit back and watch the film roll — in our minds …
Discussion:
MVN
Michael Lee / Washington Post:
Saunders calls out Wizards after losing, 110-98, to Oklahoma City — After Coach Flip Saunders watched Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant split the Washington Wizards' defense as if he were driving through cones for an impressive layup on Wednesday, he considered the possibility of putting on a pair of gym shorts.
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Giants news and notes from the Mark DeRosa conference call — Just finished a conference call with Giants GM Brian Sabean, manager Bruce Bochy and new addition Mark DeRosa. Here are the main news points: —Sabean and Bochy promised no set position or place in the lineup to DeRosa …
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Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Two surgeries down, one to go for Moyer — Phils lefty spending much of offseason in hospital — PHILADELPHIA — Jamie Moyer has had a long and trying offseason, and he still has another surgery to go before Spring Training. — Moyer, 47, has been in the hospital three times since …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Mike Florio / NBC Sports:
Keep an eye on Redskins and Sam Bradford — For those of you who think that new (eventually) Redskins coach Mike Shanahan will keep quarterback Jason Campbell, think again. — If Shanahan thought that Campbell was the “guy,” the Redskins wouldn't have chased Jay Cutler in the offseason …
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report
KCTV:
Chiefs' Coach Haley Gives Man At Bus Stop Stack Of Money — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Although Kansas City Chiefs Coach Todd Haley has been seen getting angry plenty of times on the sidelines this season, the coach showed his softer side the day after Christmas when he handed a man standing at a bus stop a stack of $20 bills.
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