Top News:
MLB:
Sources: Seattle Mariners to acquire Casey Kotchman from Boston Red Sox — The Seattle Mariners are expected to acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in return for at least one minor leaguer, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Prospect Insider, U.S.S. Mariner, NESN.com, Mariners blog and Circling The Bases
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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.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Sox to send Kotchman to Mariners, receive Bill Hall
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Projo Sox Blog:
Ellsbury will play left field in 2010 — The Red Sox have decided Jacoby Ellsbury will play left field, and Mike Cameron will man center for the 2010 season. — Once the Sox inked Cameron to a two-year deal worth $15.5 million this offseason, general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona …
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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 …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Ellsbury to LF, Cameron to CF — As soon as the Red Sox signed Mike Cameron, manager Terry Francona said he knew what he would do. It was obvious to him that Jacoby Ellsbury belonged in left field, and that he'd prefer Cameron to man center. He just needed to check with general manager Theo Epstein and bench coach DeMarlo Hale.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Holliday agrees to 7-year, $120M deal with Cards — The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a seven-year, $120 million deal with Matt Holliday, SI.com has learned. Holliday will also get a full no-trade clause. — Holliday batted .353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs in 63 games with the Cardinals …
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Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Big Unit officially ends 22-year career — Left-hander won 303 games, is second all-time in K's — Randy Johnson, who was virtually unmatched in his ability to intimidate and dominate hitters, announced his retirement from baseball during a Tuesday evening conference call.
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MLB:
Cleveland Indians sign Shelley Duncan to minor league deal — CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have signed free-agent outfielders Shelley Duncan and Austin Kearns to minor league contracts. — The 30-year-old Duncan was the MVP of the International League last season …
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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 …
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MLB.com:
Gutierrez, Seattle on verge of extension — Center fielder's deal reportedly for four years with an option — The Mariners reportedly are on the verge of signing center fielder Franklin Gutierrez to a four-year contract extension for $20.5 million with a team option for a fifth year, Gutierrez's agent Wil Polidor told MLB.com.
Discussion:
Mariners blog
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Sports Illustrated:
Shanahan's to-do list after taking 'Skins job … WWSD? What Would Shanahan Do? That's the question on the minds of so many Redskins fans today as they close in on finalizing a contract with former Denver head coach Mike Shanahan, and I thought I'd tell you the four things I think he'll do early in his regime:
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Newly re-signed Juan Uribe (one year, $3.25 million) could be everyday third baseman, Giants revisit Rowand in leadoff spot; Sabean's next wish is LH hitter — Giants GM Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy discussed the club Tuesday morning and came to a few conclusions.
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.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Circling The Bases, TYU, River Avenue Blues, The iYankees Blog and Sliding Into Home
TSN.ca:
NEW YORK METS SIGN FORMER JAYS' FIRST ROUNDER RUSS ADAMS — Former Toronto Blue Jays first round pick Russ Adams has signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. — Adams, who appeared in 286 games for Toronto over the past six seasons, is a career .248 hitter with 17 home runs and 113 RBI.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
New York Post:
Notes, Thoughts on Mets Signing of Bay — I wanted to see the first major press conference held at Citi Field so I interrupted my vacation to attend and here are 10 tidbits I picked up that I thought would be interesting to our readers: — 1. The Mets were pleasantly surprised early …
