Top News:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets, Maine agree to terms on contract — Feliciano, Francoeur, Green, Pagan remain without deals — NEW YORK — The Mets agreed to terms with John Maine on Friday evening, avoiding arbitration with the right-hander moments after he and four other Mets filed for the process.
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Associated Press:
Lincecum among 128 players to file for arbitration — NEW YORK (AP) — Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum highlighted the list of 128 players who filed for salary arbitration Friday, with many likely to gain enormous raises in the annual process.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
New York Mets GM Omar Minaya says ‘no problem’ between team and Carlos Beltran over knee surgery — The fence-mending has begun for the Mets - Omar Minaya said he had a “good conversation” with Carlos Beltran Friday and the GM stressed that there is “no problem between the New York Mets and Carlos Beltran” …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Damon, Byrnes and the Florida Four — I spent the past few hours at Yankee Stadium with most of the other Yankees beat writers. We were meeting with the Yankees media relations department. Nothing big, just an informal meeting to discuss ways to make one another's lives easier.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Kemp Signs Two-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration — The Dodgers avoided arbitration with Matt Kemp today and signed him to a two-year contract worth nearly $11MM. The deal, which the sides have been working on all week, is now official, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, LA Times Sports Blog, Hot Stove Blog, Blue Heaven and Mike Scioscia's tragic illness
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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.
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).
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 …
Joefrisaro / The Fish Pond:
Incentives for J.J. — There is some extra incentive for Josh Johnson and the Marlins to have a good season. — Johnson, who reached agreement Thursday on a four-year, $39 million contract, has some attractive bonuses attached to the deal. — If the soon-to-be 26-year-old wins the Cy Young Award, he will collect a $500,000 bonus.
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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 …
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.
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Oakland A's get Kevin Kouzmanoff in four-player trade — After coming up short in a bid to sign free agent Adrian Beltre, the Oakland Athletics filled their third base void Friday by acquiring Kevin Kouzmanoff in a four-player trade with the San Diego Padres, a baseball source confirmed.
Beck / Beck's Blog:
Closer's in. Now what? Damon? — Now that the Tigers have agreed to terms with closer Jose Valverde, they're expected to take one more look at upgrading their offense. If they're going to make an upgrade, it's most likely going to be in the outfield.If they're going to go for an outfielder …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog, lenNY's Yankees, Bless You Boys and The iYankees Blog
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