Top News:
John Tomase / Clubhouse Insider:
Beltre turned down more money to play for Sox — The Red Sox have always liked Adrian Beltre. For much of free agency, they just didn't like his price. — But that changed when Beltre decided one year in Boston was worth more in the long run than three or four somewhere else.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Jorge Says No!, MVN, The Joy of Sox, Circling The Bases, A Die Hard Yankees Fan and Sliding Into Home
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Shelley Duncan signs with the Indians — Look out Cleveland. The storm is coming through. And it's running right up on you. — Turns out, The Band had it right all along. — Shelley Duncan has signed with the Cleveland Indians. Their depth chart lists two young players …
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Red Sox Truck Day is coming... Friday, Feb. 12 — In what has become an annual sign that spring is around the corner in Boston, Truck Day will arrive on Friday, Feb. 12, when the Red Sox moving van will be loaded at Fenway Park for the 1,467-mile trek to the team's spring training complex …
Discussion:
The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox agree to deal with Beltre — The Red Sox have agreed on a deal with third baseman Adrian Beltre, a source told the Globe. The deal is for one year with Beltre holding an option for the second year. — Peter Gammons is reporting that Beltre would be paid $9 million in 2010.
Discussion:
It's About The Money, MVN, Seattle Times, Over the Monster, BronxBanterBlog.com, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS and NESN.com
Fox Sports:
Beltre deal is a steal for Red Sox — The Red Sox are stealing Adrian Beltre. — Doesn't matter if Beltre's contract ends up as one year, $10 million, two years, $14 million or even two years, $20 million. — Free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Mariners early in the off-season.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
IT WASN'T EASY, BUT THE RED SOX FINALLY GOT THEIR MAN — NEW YORK - The Red Sox and Adrian Beltre had come close before. — Following the 2004 season, the Sox had hoped to trade Manny Ramirez with the idea of freeing up money with an eye towards signing Beltre, a free agent who was coming off a 48-home run season with the Dodgers.
Discussion:
Sabernomics
Howard Megdal / MLB Rumors:Red Sox, Mets Discussed Castillo For Lowell
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Circling The Bases, The Real Dirty Mets Blog, Over the Monster and Boston Globe
MLB.com:
Broadcaster Rory Markas passes away — ANAHEIM, CA: Angels Baseball Tuesday announced that veteran broadcaster Rory Markas passed away yesterday at his home in Palmdale, CA. No other details are available, and funeral service information is pending. — Markas, 54, spent eight seasons calling play …
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Bill Shaikin / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels' announcer Rory Markas dies — Rory Markas, one of the Angels' play-by-play announcers since 2002, has died. The Angels' team-owned radio station, AM 830, announced his death this morning. The station did not announce a cause of death. — “I think now everybody should just celebrate …
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Mets to unveil Bay on Tuesday — Outfielder passes physical; conference to be held at 11 a.m. — At about noon ET on Monday, the Mets officially secured one of their biggest reasons for optimism heading into next season. — The Mets announced a Tuesday news conference at 11 a.m. to unveil Jason Bay …
Discussion:
New York Magazine
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa says deal or no deal this week — Amid growing signs that the Cardinals and free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday were on the brink of a franchise-record contract to keep the former batting champion in St. Louis, manager Tony La Russa acknowledged Monday that any deal should be finalized sometime this week.
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MLB.com:
Marlins to change name on road uniforms — MIAMI - With the New Marlins Ballpark opening in 2012, the Florida Marlins today announced a change to the team's road uniforms starting in the 2010 season. The gray uniform top will now identify the team as “Marlins” across the chest instead of …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Shoppach, Rays agree to deal — Catcher Kelly Shoppach has agreed to a guaranteed two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays worth about $5.5 million, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — The contract takes Shoppach through his final two years of salary arbitration, and includes a club option for his first year of free agency.
Jason Reid / Redskins Insider:
Bugel decision may affect timing of announcement — The scheduling of the Redskins' anticipated introduction of Mike Shanahan as their next coach could be affected by potential plans to honor offensive line coach Joe Bugel, who is expected to retire, league sources said.
Discussion:
D.C. Sports Bog, William World News, DC Pro Sports Report, NBC Sports, Mr. Irrelevant and The Big Lead
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies ink one-year deal with Olivo — Club option for 2011 included for former Royals backstop — DENVER — The Rockies replaced a sparkplug with a sparkplug on Monday. — Unable to bridge a gap in negotiations with catcher Yorvit Torrealba, Colorado reached an agreement with Miguel Olivo …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien:
Damon could be good fit atop Braves' order — A few thoughts while wondering if Johnny Damon would wear his hair Boston-era caveman style or Yankees-era short when he signs with the Braves — OK, if he signs with Braves — and trying to figure out how it's colder in Atlanta this week …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
ESPN To Launch 3D Television Network — ESPN will launch ESPN 3D - the industry's first 3D television network - it was announced today by George Bodenheimer, Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, and President, ESPN and ABC Sports. ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during …
