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.
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Reds, Chapman Agree To Deal — 3:51pm: Jon Heyman says, via Twitter, that the initially reported deal of five years and $30MM is expected to be finalized and announced by tomorrow. — 3:47pm: Fay tweets that a deal is done, pending a physical. According to Fay, it's six years guaranteed …
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
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Mets Fever, The iYankees Blog, MetsBlog.com, MASNsports.com and River Avenue Blues
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.
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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 …
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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
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
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Slow going for Westmoreland — The Red Sox will host a development program for some of their brightest prospects this week at Boston College, using the indoor facility to help the players get prepared for the season while at the same time acclimating them to life in Boston.
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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.
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 …
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Florida Marlins Top 20 Prospects for 2010 — Florida Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) — Top 20 Florida Marlins Prospects for 2010 — All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get beyond the Top 10.
Discussion:
Florida Marlins
