Top News:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Cubs sign OF Byrd to 3-year contract — The Chicago Cubs made their first major addition of the offseason, signing former Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd to a three-year, $15 million deal on Thursday. — The Cubs hope Byrd can fill their center field void.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Texas looking to fill Byrd's void in lineup — Many bargains available on market to fulfill Rangers' wish list — ARLINGTON — Outfielder Marlon Byrd is on his way to Chicago, having agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday.
Yahoo! Sports:
Cubs agree with Marlon Byrd on $15M, 3-year deal — CHICAGO (AP)—The Cubs found the center fielder they'd been searching for, agreeing Thursday to a $15 million, three-year contract with Marlon Byrd — And the Cubs are hoping to have more success with this former Texas Rangers outfielder …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Sign Marlon Byrd — The Cubs signed Marlon Byrd to a three-year $15MM deal today. The 32-year-old will play center field and push Kosuke Fukudome to right. Ken Rosenthal tweeted that the Cubs were nearing a deal with Byrd and Carrie Muskat followed up with the contract's length …
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Cubs Land Marlon Byrd — After a few months of shopping around, the Cubs finally settled on Marlon Byrd as their new center fielder, signing him to a 3 year deal worth a reported $15 million. What should Cubs fans expect from their new center fielder? — Essentially, the epitome of an average player.
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
New York Yankees Top 20 Prospects for 2010 — More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP — New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, drafted in the first round in 2004. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — Browse more photos » — Top 20 New York Yankees Prospects for 2010
ESPN:
Boston Red Sox's Mike Lowell has surgery on right thumb — As expected, Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn radial collateral ligament in his right thumb. He is expected to be ready for spring training after six to eight weeks of rest and rehabilitation.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Inbox: Dissecting the Bay aftermath — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions — I keep hearing experts say that players like Jason Bay won't hit home runs in Citi Field. Doesn't the fact that visiting players hit 81 homers there last year indicate that the Mets hitters …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Agent: Kemp not thinking long-term deal — Dodgers exploring multiyear contract with star outfielder — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have opened discussions on a multiyear contract with Matt Kemp, but his agent said Kemp might prefer to go year to year. — “We've only talked about it a little bit …
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Teen Ramirez wins MiLBY as top starter — 19-year-old Yankees prospect dominant in debut season — There's been a bit of a renaissance in the lower levels of the Yankees farm system, particularly when it comes to young, intriguing arms. — That's largely been because of a renewed effort …
Discussion:
MVN
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Raines should easily walk right into Hall — Speedster had more than 800 stolen bases and reached base nearly 4,000 times — We've all got our prejudices, and Hall of Fame voters have any number of them. — Unfortunately, two of the voters' many prejudices work squarely against Tim Raines.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards, Holliday closing in on deal — The wait might have been worth it for the Cardinals, as the club and free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday are working toward an agreement that multiple sources described as gaining momentum and potentially is the largest ever offered by the franchise.
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Former teammate Sean Casey says New York Mets made right move signing Jason Bay — After the Mets suffered through a lackluster, injury-ravaged season that left them a baseball punchline, their first big move of the winter - nabbing free-agent slugger Jason Bay - is a huge step toward jolting …
Associated Press:
Tigers' Laird, brother arrested … PHOENIX (AP) — Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird and his younger brother, New York Yankees infield prospect Brandon Laird, were arrested following a brawl in the lounge area of Phoenix's NBA arena, according to police. — Phoenix police said Gerald Laird …
