Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox pick up option on Ortiz — The team just announced they will pick up the $12.5 million option on David Ortiz. They also picked up the option for RHP Scott Atchison. — As expected, they declined the options on Bill Hall and Felipe Lopez. — More to come on this
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Red Sox need to play moneyball — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — Before trying to figure out the Red Sox [team stats]' targets in free agency this winter, it'd be nice to know what they can spend. — And an examination of the numbers suggests a pretty healthy sum: $30 million-$40 million.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Decision is due on Ortiz option
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built
Associated Press:
Beltre declines $10M option, will test free agency
Discussion:
ESPN, Boston Globe, ESPN, FenwayNationWorld and Mariners blog
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Beltre officially declines option for 2011
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, Projo Sox Blog, Fanhouse MLB Blog and NESN.com
Rob Parker / ESPN:
The smart way to pay Derek Jeter — With the captain a free agent, the Yankees' brass must look past the bottom line — NEW YORK — We can only hope that Hal Steinbrenner's first salvo in the Derek Jeter situation was more about provisions and not money.
Discussion:
bronxgoblin.com
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Agent: Derek Jeter has huge value … NEW YORK — Derek Jeter's agent has fired back at the Yankees, saying that Jeter's value to the Yankees “cannot be overstated.” — Jeter's agent, Casey Close, made his statements Wednesday in response to the public posturing by the Yankees.
Discussion:
New York Post, Pinstripe Alley, Surviving Grady and baseballmusings.com
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth out of Yankees offseason plans, Cliff Lee tops free agent wish list — Having already met with ownership in Tampa earlier this week to hammer out a budget for next season, Brian Cashman huddled at Yankee Stadium Wednesday with his baseball people to figure out how to best spend that money.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, MLB Rumors, NESN.com, River Avenue Blues and The700Level.com
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
Melvin, Jauss 1st for Sandy — Mets on Twitter — Tweet — Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss will get the first crack at interviewing for the Mets' managerial opening. — The team announced last night that Melvin and Jauss, who had not previously been mentioned as a candidate …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman>DAILY SCOOP
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Crashburn Alley and MetsBlog.com
AdamMcCalvy / Brew Beat:
Roenicke hiring official — It's official: Ron Roenicke is the next Milwaukee Brewers field manager. — The Brewers made the announcement Thursday morning and planned to introduce Roenicke, 54, at a 1:30 p.m. CT press conference at Miller Park. Club officials confirmed he was the choice …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and JSOnline
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Roenicke's hiring draws rave reviews
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Brew Beat and Halos Heaven
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays may try to bring back Wheeler, Aybar for less — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays declined options on reliever Dan Wheeler and infielder/DH Willy Aybar on Wednesday, but they could end up keeping both. — The Rays gave Wheeler, 32, a $1 million buyout rather than a $4 million salary …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Rays Index
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Hall of Fame skipper Anderson dies at 76 — Managed Big Red Machine in '70s; roaring Tigers in '80s — The white-haired genius who helped make red the pre-eminent color in the National League in the '70s and directed the American League team that roared the loudest in the '80s has passed.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
David Wade / Hardball Times:
Inside the rules: tie goes to the runner — Many baseball fans, and possibly some players and coaches, believe that a baserunner who reaches first at the same time as the ball is safe. Those under that impression often will declare, magisterially and emphatically, that the 'tie goes …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and THE BOOK
Chicago Sun Times:
Hendry won't be big on big-name free agents — Don't count on Adam Dunn or Cliff Lee — or even Derrek Lee — in a Cubs uniform next season. — With a payroll budget that figures to leave little room for big-shot free agents, indications are that general manager Jim Hendry is focusing …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Texas not exercising Vlad option; he could be back — ARLINGTON, Texas—The Texas Rangers did not exercise a $9 million option for Vladimir Guerrero, yet the American League champions could bring the slugger back next season. — Guerrero gets a $1 million buyout under the agreement he signed before last season.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo! Sports and USA Today
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Sports Illustrated:
Where Giants rank among surprise champions of wild card era … The baseball commentariat didn't like the San Francisco Giants' odds going into this year. Nor did it like them going into the stretch run, as they were behind the similar, but seemingly more talented, San Diego Padres in the NL West.
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Ryne Sandberg won't be back with Chicago Cubs next season — CHICAGO — After being passed over for the Chicago Cubs managerial job, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will not be back with the organization next season. — Sandberg, who managed the past four seasons in the Cubs' minor-league system …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Breaking Sports:
Hendry: Sandberg has left Cubs' organization
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Cliff Lee & Taxes In Texas — Despite his two World Series losses, many are assuming that the Yankees will bid top dollar for Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee in free agency. — Lee is expected to earn north of $100 million for a five-year contract, which might go higher if it turns into a bidding war.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
