Top News:
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:
Fack Youk, Bronx Baseball Daily, 6Pound8OunceBabyJoba, River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
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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, BronxBanterBlog.com, MVN, Over the Monster, Circling The Bases, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS and NESN.com
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.
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.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Beltre closing in on deal with Red Sox … 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
Howard Megdal / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox, Mets Discussing Castillo-For-Lowell? — 9:52pm: WEEI.com's Rob Bradford tweets that a Castillo-for-Lowell deal is “not close.” — 6:56pm: ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets, “I just heard that Red Sox have talked to the Mets about a Mike Lowell-for-Luis Castillo trade. Not sure how serious it is.”
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.
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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.
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, Walkoff Walk, Circling The Bases, Bottom9 Baseball, 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
JoeDelGrippo / Dugout Central:
Bay Will be Minaya's Sexson — He was an early 30's (in age) slugger, traded several times during the early part of his career until a team in the NL Central finally gave him the opportunity to play full time. At this point, he began to produce big offensive numbers.
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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 …
John Shipley / TwinCities.com:
Winter reports on pitcher Francisco Liriano have Twins manager Ron Gardenhire excited — If healthy, lefthander could earn a spot in starting rotation — Ron Gardenhire said Monday he's excited about having veteran Carl Pavano back in the rotation, but his eyes really lit up when discussing …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
