Top News:
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Bill Hall to Red Sox in Kotchman Deal — A baseball source said that Bill Hall would be going from the Mariners to the Red Sox in the Casey Kotchman deal, describing his inclusion in the agreement between the clubs as “a done deal.” Hall will be sent to the Sox along with a player to be named and cash for Kotchman.
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MLB:
Sources: Seattle Mariners to acquire Casey Kotchman from Boston Red Sox for Bill Hall — The Seattle Mariners are expected to acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in return for Bill Hall and at least one minor leaguer, according to major-league sources.
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.
Fox Sports:
Source: BoSox on verge of dealing Kotchman to M's — Red Sox first baseman Casey Kotchman is on the verge of being traded to the Mariners, according to a major-league source. — The deal, first reported by ESPN.com, will bring the Red Sox utility man Bill Hall and a minor leaguer.
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Boston Red Sox move Jacoby Ellsbury to left field, Mike Cameron to center field — Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona informed Jacoby Ellsbury recently that he will be playing left field, with newcomer Mike Cameron in center, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein confirmed on Wednesday. — Cameron
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Sox to send Kotchman to Mariners, receive Bill Hall
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Alex Speier / Full Count:UPDATED: Sox, Mariners Close to Deal on Kotchman
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Fox Sports:Beltre deal is a steal for Red Sox
Discussion:
Hardball Times, WEEI, Full Count, Boston Globe, El Lefty Malo, MetsBlog.com and Sports Illustrated
Fox Sports:
Big Unit has case to be best-ever lefty — After 22 seasons, five Cy Young awards, 303 wins, 166 losses, 4,135.1 innings, 17,067 batters faced, and 66,892 pitches thrown, Randy Johnson is retiring. His dominance, his flair and his legendary slider will all be missed. But it's the right time.
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Associated Press:
Randy Johnson retires after 22 seasons, 303 victories — SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Johnson is retiring after 22 major league seasons. — The Big Unit, an overpowering lefty who last June became the 24th pitcher to win 300 games, made the expected announcement Tuesday on a conference call.
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Randy Johnson announces retirement after 22 seasons — Over the course of his storied 22-year career, Randy Johnson — wielded an incomparable fastball, a trophy case full of individual and team honors and the best baseball mullet not attached to a member of the 1993 Phillies.
Pat Andriola / Hardball Times:Randy Johnson retiring?
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Boston Globe, Camden Chat, Lookout Landing, The iYankees Blog and MVN
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Gillick on Morris: ‘He Just Found a Way to Win’ — As we consider potential Hall of Famers this week, one background name comes to mind: Pat Gillick. As a general manager, Gillick built a two-time World Series winner in Toronto and oversaw playoff teams in Baltimore and Seattle.
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Ronald Blum / Globe and Mail:
Hirschbeck backs Alomar to Hall — MLB umpire and All-Star slugger have patched up differences since spitting incident at Toronto's SkyDome 14 years ago — Weather - Video - Blogs - RSS Feeds - Globe Books - TV listings - Globe on Twitter - World Juniors - Decoding the decade
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Holliday, Cards reach 7-year deal — 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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Juan C. Rodriguez / Florida Marlins:
Florida Marlins: “Still in the game” for Chapman; Uggla to stay put? — The Marlins apparently are giving free agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman something to think about. According to an American League source following the situation, the Marlins are “still in the game” …
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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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Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yankees' aim: bolster bench depth — Out in the Bronx, there is no cause to add a slugging left fielder to the Yankees' lineup. — “Our team is, for the most part, set,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday by phone from his office at Yankee Stadium.
ESPN:
Damon Desperation — Jonny Damon is likely going to wish he had taken the Yankees two-year, $14 million deal, because the market has dried up on him. Baseball executives say they think Damon is this year's Bobby Abreu. Abreu had to accept a one-year deal last offseason, but played well enough to earn a two-year deal this winter.
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Mike Klis / Denver Post:
Mike Shanahan reaches deal to coach Redskins — Mike Shanahan has reached an agreement in principle to become the new head coach of the Washington Redskins, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. — The Redskins are making plans for Shanahan to sign his contract and announce his hiring Wednesday.
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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