Top News:
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:
MLB Rumors, Seattle Times, MVN, BronxBanterBlog.com, Over the Monster, NESN.com and IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS
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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 …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, 6Pound8OunceBabyJoba, River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Red Sox face competition for Beltre — The Boston Red Sox have made an offer to free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, according to a major league source, but are facing competition from other teams, a list that could include the Orioles, Athletics and Angels.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Beltre, Red Sox come to agreement … Third baseman Adrian Beltre have agreed to terms on a deal with the Red Sox, SI.com has learned. — Beltre would receive $9 million in 2010, with a player option for 2011 for $5 million. That option could escalate to $10 million if he were to reach …
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
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.
Fox Sports:
Plenty of talent still up for grabs — for the right price — The holidays are over, but Baseball's shopping season is not. — More than 100 free agents remain unsigned, including several of the biggest names — and virtually all of Scott Boras' clients. — Spring training begins in approximately six weeks.
RELATED:
MLB:Sources: St. Louis Cardinals close to deal with Matt Holliday
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Sports Illustrated:
Explaining my Hall of Fame ballot … Normally at this time I reveal my Hall of Fame ballot. This time, I'll spend most of the time explaining it. — Already, my ballot has been met with considerable ridicule on Twitter and other cyberspace spots. And at the risk of further ridicule …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, ESPN, Bottom9 Baseball, Circling The Bases, Camden Chat and The Good Phight
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Sports Illustrated:Class act, great numbers, but Edgar Martinez is no Hall of Famer
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Jim Caple / MLB:Bert Blyleven should finally get Hall of Fame call
Discussion:
Purple Row, Amazin' Avenue, Federal Baseball, Bless You Boys, Bluebird Banter, Halos Heaven, Red Reporter, Gaslamp Ball and Brew Crew Ball
Jason Reid / Redskins Insider:
Shanahan could be introduced Tuesday — Mike Shanahan is expected to be named head coach of the Redskins, according to sources in the organization, and, barring unforeseen glitches, will likely be introduced in a news conference Tuesday. — That timeline makes sense, they said …
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Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Q&A with Matt Capps — Matt Capps agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Nats some time around 1 a.m. on Christmas Eve. He was visiting family in Asheville, N.C., at the time. Hours later, he went to the local mall in hopes of buying a Nats hat at the Lids store. But they were already sold out.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates sign Burres, Cotts, Yates — The Pirates have agreed to terms on minor league contracts with pitchers Brian Burres, Neal Cotts and Tyler Yates. All will be invited to spring training. — Burres, a 28-year-old left-hander, was 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA for the Blue Jays' Class AAA affiliate …
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Raise the Jolly Roger, MVN, MLB Rumors, BUCCO Fans.com, Bucs Dugout and Where Have You Gone …
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Jason Bay passes physical; New York Mets to introduce outfielder Tuesday — Free-agent outfielder Jason Bay has passed his physical exam and will be introduced as the newest New York Met on Tuesday at Citi Field, the team announced Monday. — Bay, 31, reached agreement with the Mets …
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:Mets hold breath for Bay's physical
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Mets Fever, TedQuarters.net and Circling The Bases
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Strawberry to appear on ‘Apprentice’ — Slugger competing on reality show for charity of his choice — Will Darryl Strawberry be “hired” or “fired?” — No, the former Mets and Yankees slugger isn't up for a front-office position, but something a bit more television-friendly.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies finalize one-year deal with Olivo — DENVER — Yorvit Torrealba's time with the Rockies is over. After unable to reach terms on a two-year contract, the club moved on Monday, signing free agent Miguel Olivo to a one-year deal with a club option. — Terms of the deal were not disclosed …
MLB:
Agent says 15 teams have asked about Chien-Ming Wang — The agent for Chien-Ming Wang told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand that he has heard from 15 teams, whom are interested in Wang. — Wang — The New York Yankees are one of them, but Alan Nero, Wang's agent, says he has not yet heard from the New York Mets.
