Top News:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Francisco Rodriguez Lived with Charlie Samuels — According to the New York Times, after Francisco Rodriguez's alleged altercation at Citi Field in August, he moved in with equipment manager Charlie Samuels. — The Daily News says Samuels has been suspended by the Mets indefinitely …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and The Mets Police
RELATED:
ESPN:
Reports: New York Mets clubhouse man admits MLB bet — NEW YORK — New York Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels admitted betting on baseball, according to a person familiar with the investigation. — Samuels made the admission to an investigator for Major League Baseball in the last few weeks …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
New York Post:
Post-career deal would solve Yankees-Jeter contract issue — Tweet — Hal Steinbrenner talks publicly about as often as Marcel Marceau. Casey Close is a more garrulous fellow, but when it comes to offering specifics about one of his client's contract negotiations …
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze, Bronx Baseball Daily, Subway Squawkers and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Will Yanks try to squeeze Jeter? — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — I love when the New York Yankees start talking about how they're “running a business,” …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Angels blog
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Derek Jeter, Cliff Lee near free agency — NEW YORK — When the clock strikes midnight late Saturday night, Derek Jeter will turn into a free agent. — Barring a last minute agreement, the 36-year-old Jeter will enter fee agency for the first time in his career and will be able to negotiate with any of the major league teams.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Jordanbastianmlb / Major League Bastian:
Anthopoulos gets creative — This post was brought to you by the letter “B”... ... as in “Type B.” — On Thursday night, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos swung a pretty creative trade. For an hour and a half, catcher Miguel Olivo was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Lookout Landing and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies trade Olivo to Jays
Discussion:
Baseball America, Boston Globe, Purple Row, Denver Post and Yahoo! Sports
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Jesus Montero will get chance to win starting catching job, Jorge Posada will slide in as Yankees DH — Back in July, the Yankees were willing to deal Jesus Montero for Cliff Lee. When the 2011 season starts, Montero could be catching Lee in the Bronx. — The consensus among …
RELATED:
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
The future may be only a few months away
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, The Sommer Frieze and Pinstripe Alley
David Waldstein / Bats:
Mets and Takahashi Part Ways — Hisanori Takahashi's time with the Mets is over after one successful season, and he will seek another team in free agency beginning Saturday. — The Mets and Takahashi's agent, Arn Tellem, were expected to announce later Friday that they could not come …
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog, MLB Rumors and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
David Waldstein / Bats:
Time Running Out for Mets on Takahashi
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk, New York Mets Fan Blog and Mets Fever
Cincinnati.com:
Sparky Anderson: Did you know? — Here are some little-known facts and stories about the life and times of Reds great Sparky Anderson: — Origin Of The Nickname — In 1953, George Lee Anderson began his minor league career in Class C ball at Santa Barbara, Calif. …
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk and SportsJustice
RELATED:
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
So long, Sparky — As many out there in reader-land likely already …
Discussion:
ESPN and The Daily Fungo
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Bidding For Iwakuma Closes, Mariners The Favorite? — NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman passes along a report saying that the bidding has closed for Japanese righty Hisashi Iwakuma (via Twitter), and a report from Sports Hochi (article in Japanese) indicates that the Mariners appear to be the favorite to land him.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
German, Mathis, McCarthy outrighted off the roster — Esteban German, pitcher Doug Mathis and pitcher Brandon McCarthy have all been out-righted off the 40-man roster. All are taking their free agency. Also pitcher Scott Feldman has undergone right knee surgery and will be limited at the beginning of Spring Training.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, MLB Rumors and Baseball Time in Arlington
Bailey Stephens / MLB.com:
Astros hire Barnett as new hitting coach — Team's Minors hitting coordinator to replace Bagwell in 2011 — The Astros have hired Mike Barnett as their new hitting coach, the club announced on Friday. — Barnett, who will take the place of Jeff Bagwell, will be a familiar face for Astros hitters …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and HardballTalk
Philly.com:
Phillies increase ticket prices — Coming off a franchise attendance record, the Phillies will be increasing ticket prizes in most areas of Citizens Bank Park for 2011 by $2 to $5. — Season ticketholders have been sent renewal invoices this week reflecting the change.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Good Phight
