Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Dodgers, Kemp Agree To Two-Year Deal — 1:38pm: Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times tweets the specifics: Kemp makes $4MM this year and $6.95MM next year for a total of $10.95MM. — 12:26pm: The deal is worth almost $11MM, according to Gurnick. — 11:13:am: The Dodgers and Matt Kemp …
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers come to terms with Kemp — Center fielder to sign for two years pending a physical — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers and center fielder Matt Kemp have reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year contract for almost $11 million, pending his passing a physical, according to baseball sources.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Let's quiet the Damon talk — As we head toward the weekend, I still haven't gained any reason to think any different about the possibility of the Braves signing Johnny Damon. — There's no doubt that Damon could benefit the Braves from an offensive perspective.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Glavine mulling new job with Braves — Legendary left-hander says he's unlikely to pitch again — ATLANTA — Tom Glavine is not ready to officially declare that his legendary pitching career is complete. But as he nears this likely reality, he has wondered whether it's time to mend relationships …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson agrees to 4-year, $39M deal — Pitcher Josh Johnson reached an agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep him with the Florida Marlins through 2013. The pitcher confirmed the agreement to ESPN.com Thursday. — Johnson
Discussion:
The Big Lead, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, It's About The Money, TYU, Beyond the Box Score, True Blue LA, A Die Hard Yankees Fan, MLB Rumors, Sliding Into Home, FishStripes, Yahoo! Sports, The iYankees Blog, Florida Marlins news …, MLB Daily Dish, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Circling The Bases
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
‘Fakes, phonies, creeps, cheaters’ — (J.B. Forbes/PD and Otto Gruele/Allsport) — Former Cardinals slugger Jack Clark apparently isn't enamored of the current hitting coach, especially in light of Mark McGwire's admission a few days ago that he had used steroids in 1998-99 when he played …
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Valverde, Tigers agree to terms — Deal is for two years, stabilizes back end of bullpen — DETROIT — The Tigers are poised to sign the veteran closer they hoped to add. They agreed to terms Thursday with Jose Valverde on a two-year contract with an option for a third …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, Roar of the Tigers, TigerBlog, Yahoo! Sports and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Toronto Star:
Griffin: Jays overcame some tough odds — On Dec. 12, the Blue Jays were within 48 hours of keeping Roy Halladay for the 2010 season and having to settle for two compensation draft picks in the June 2011 draft. — The Phillies' offer of Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor and Travis D'Arnaud …
Pete Caldera / Pinstripe Posts:
How about Baldelli? — While we still believe that Xavier Nady would ultimately be the best solution to fill the Yankees' need for a corner outfielder/right-handed hitter, Rocco Baldelli might be the next best choice (considering the Yanks' need and their hard-line budget).
Anthony Castrovince / CastroTurf:
Tribe signs Redmond to be backup backstop — The Indians have signed 38-year-old Mike Redmond to a one-year contract to be their backup catcher. It is their first Major League free agent signing this offseason, and it brings their 40-man roster total to 39.
New York Times:
The Mets and Boras Are at Odds on Beltran — After experiencing sharp pain in his right knee, Carlos Beltran was examined Tuesday morning in Boulder, Colo., by Dr. Richard Steadman, a top orthopedic surgeon who concluded that Beltran should have arthroscopic surgery to repair an arthritic condition.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
‘Great exchange of ideas’ to advance game — Commissioner, Special Committee discuss variety of topics — PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — The first Special Committee meeting called by Commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday afternoon began at 2 p.m. MT and lasted four hours.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Bell, Padres come to terms, avoid arbitration — Closer agrees on one-year deal for $4 million in 2010 — SAN DIEGO — Leading the National League in saves and being named to an All-Star team has served Padres' closer Heath Bell well — both on the field and financially.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Now's the time to speak for Maris — September 1998: Roger Maris Jr. (right) holds the bat his father, Roger Maris, used to hit the record-setting home run in 1961. He and his brothers (left to right) Randy, Kevin and Rich, were at Busch Stadium to watch Mark McGwire. (Odell Mitchell Jr./P-D)
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Nate Carlisle / Salt Lake Tribune:
Thief posed as Chicago Cub, charges say — A Nevada man is accused of posing as a Major League Baseball player to steal a car. — Matthew T. Van Meter, 24, is charged in Utah state court with felony counts of theft and forgery. Charging papers accuse Van Meter, of Elko., Nev. …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Heather Dinich / ESPN:
Al Groh named Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' defensive coordinator — Former Virginia head coach Al Groh will become the next defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. — Groh said Friday that he and the school have an agreement in principle, but did not disclose terms of the contract.
