Top News:
Tom Brady / Yahoo! Sports:
Source: Chapman to sign with NL team — Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman, whose defection sparked a bidding war among major league teams that coveted his 100-mph fastball, agreed Sunday morning to sign for $30 million with a National League team, according to a source close the negotiations.
RELATED:
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Reds, Chapman Agree To $30MM Deal? — 2:12pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer jumps into the mix, tweeting that the two parties are talking, but the deal is yet to be signed and could be for as many as ten years. — 1:52pm: Passan confirms the deal, via Twitter.
New York Post:
Derek Jeter, Minka Kelly set to become Mr. and Mrs. ‘November’ — Women of New York, start weeping. — After months of speculation that the Yankees' hunk and his sexy steady Minka Kelly are headed to the altar, The Post has learned that the super couple may have settled on a wedding date — Nov. 5.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Circling The Bases, matsuifan.com, Mike Silva's … and Zell's Pinstripe Blog
RELATED:
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers sign Khalil Greene — The Rangers have signed infielder Khalil Greene to a one-year contract to be their utility infielder. He will receive $750,000. The agreement is pending a physical. He batted .200 in 77 games and 193 at-bats for the Cardinals last year.
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers reel in Greene for utility role — Veteran agrees to one-year deal to supplant Vizquel — ARLINGTON — The Rangers added a designated hitter and a utility infielder all in the same weekend. — While getting a deal done with Vladimir Guerrero, sources said the Rangers were also able …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A central issue is how Ellsbury will handle move — There's something about the position. Center field. — Maybe it is The Catch by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds that has stuck in everyone's minds. Those who play center feel a sense of accomplishment …
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Sources: Rangers agree to terms with Guerrero — According to two sources, the Rangers have agreed to terms with outfielder/DH Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year contract believed to be worth $5 million plus performance bonuses. General manager Jon Daniels has not responded to requests for confirmation.
Discussion:
Postcards from Elysian Fields, Circling The Bases, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Rangers Top 11 Prospects — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Four More: — 12. Miguel Velasquez, OF: The ultra-talented outfielder could be on the verge of a breakout if his personal issues are totally behind him. — 13. Kasey Kiker, LHP: He has big-league arm …
RELATED:
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
On the Beat — Weekend Update — All the big names are off the free-agent board now that Matt Holliday has re-signed with the Cardinals, Jason Bay pulled a surprise and signed with the Mets, and John Lackey caught many off guard by switching coasts and signing with the Red Sox.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Matsuzaka discusses leg injury — The disconnect that existed between the Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka may have gone deeper than first realized. — The righthander told the Japanese magazine Friday that he suffered a leg injury while training for the WBC that he kept hidden from the team.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Busy day of baseball in Boston — A few observations, quotes and notes picked up from today's events: — * Ryan Westmoreland will not participate in the rookie development program that starts Monday. He will instead head to Fort Myers this coming week to ramp up his rehab from a broken collarbone suffered in late August.
RELATED:
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
CRAFTY CARDINALS' SIGNING STRATEGY — On the day of the trading deadline in 1997 the St. Louis Cardinals acquired Mark McGwire from the Oakland Athletics. The Cardinals were in third place at the time and slipped another spot in the standings by the end of the season …
