Top News:
Associated Press:
Beltre declines $10M option, will test free agency … BOSTON (AP) — Adrian Beltre has declined a $10 million player option that would have kept him with the Boston Red Sox next year. — The third baseman will get a $1 million buyout and becomes a free agent after just one season with the Red Sox.
Discussion:
ESPN, Boston Globe, Mariners blog and MLB
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Beltre officially declines option for 2011 — Not that this will come as any surprise, but a Major League source told the Globe that Adrian Beltre officially informed the Red Sox he has declined his $10 million option for 2011. — By virtue of reaching 640 plate appearances (he finished with 641) …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, Projo Sox Blog, Yahoo! Sports, Fanhouse MLB Blog and NESN.com
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.
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Projo Sox Blog
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox prospect Adalberto Ibarra has shoulder surgery
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Over the Monster
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:
Surviving Grady and baseballmusings.com
Ed Price / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Agent on Derek Jeter: ‘(His) Impact Cannot Be Overstated’ — Derek Jeter's agent on Wednesday responded to comments from Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, who went on New York sports-radio stations the day before and sounded cold-blooded about the negotiations on the star's next contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, New Jersey Online, Pinstriped Bible and CBS New York
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
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Breaking Sports:
Hendry: Sandberg has left Cubs' organization
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
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, Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports and USA Today
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Sports Illustrated:
Offseason, free agency could deliver more surprises … Many of baseball's best young players are locked up early in their career nowadays, limiting free-agent lists to lesser lights in some recent years. But at least this year's free-agent market still contains a trio of players …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, The700Level.com, The Fightins, MLB Rumors and NY Daily News
Tgroeschen / Cincinnati Reds:
Reds exercise options on Arroyo, Gomes; decline Cabrera, Harang — The Reds announced today that they exercised contract options for 2011 on Bronson Arroyo and Jonny Gomes, and did not exercise the options for Orlando Cabrera and Aaron Harang. — Right-hander Arroyo will get $11 million next season.
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds Exercise 2011 Option For Bronson Arroyo
Discussion:
Mark My Word and Redleg Nation
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Aramis Ramirez will return to Cubs — Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez informed the team on Wednesday that he has declined the option in his contract to become a free agent and will return to the Cubs in 2011. — Ramirez, who will be playing in the final year of a five-year …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Fanhouse MLB Blog and MLB Rumors
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:
THE BOOK
Mark Healey / Gotham Nation:
ESPN's Rubin Plays Games With Backman's Career — For the last 14 years, I have traveled inside, outside and around the many worlds of journalism. Writing for the Associated Press for eight of them, working in terrestrial radio for three of them, and writing for magazines, the Internet as well.
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies still mulling over Olivo's option — Club will not pick up option on former ace Francis — DENVER — Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said on Wednesday the club is still contemplating whether to pick up catcher Miguel Olivo's $2.5 million option for 2011, as well as what the club's plan is for the position.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Oakland Athletics pick up Mark Ellis, Coco Crisp options, decline Eric Chavez's — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Athletics have exercised club options on second baseman Mark Ellis and outfielder Coco Crisp for next season, while declining an option on third baseman Eric Chavez.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Coco Crisp's option is being picked up by the A's
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
