Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Close To Signing A.J. Pierzynski — The Blue Jays are close to signing A.J. Pierzynski, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Even though John Buck signed with the Marlins and Miguel Olivo declined the team's offer of arbitration, the Blue Jays still have two capable catchers.
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ESPN:
Source: White Sox land Adam Dunn — The Chicago White Sox have finalized a four-year, $56 million deal with free-agent slugger Adam Dunn, according to a source familiar with the situation. — The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled for Friday morning, and is not expected to be announced until later in the day.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, The Nats Blog and Bless You Boys
Doug Padilla / ESPN:
Chicago White Sox exercise option on Alexei Ramirez — The Chicago White Sox made it official Thursday, exercising the $2.75 million option on Alexei Ramirez, but the end of Bobby Jenks' career with the Sox may be near. — According to a source with knowledge of White Sox business …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports, Bluebird Banter and MLB Daily Dish
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Chicago White Sox closing in on four-year, $56-million deal for slugger Adam Dunn — The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a four-year, $56-million deal for free-agent slugger Adam Dunn, according to a major-league source with knowledge of the situation. — The news will be something …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, NESN.com, HardballTalk, SBNation.com, Nationals Journal and Camden Chat
USA Today:
White Sox, Adam Dunn agree to 4-year, $56 million deal — Adam Dunn, the biggest slugger on the free-agent market, has agreed in principal to a four-year deal for $56 million with the White Sox, according to two officials involved in the contract talks who were not athorized to speak …
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
White Sox finalize deal with slugger Adam Dunn: sources — No stranger to chasing down his white whales, Ken Williams harpooned his latest one on Thursday. — And it's a doozy. — The Sun-Times first reported back in June that slugger Adam Dunn was sought by the White Sox general manager …
Fox Sports:
ChiSox pursuing options, mulling trades — 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. — Jon Paul Morosi — The Chicago White Sox agreed terms with free agent slugger Adam Dunn on a four-year …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Examiner and South Side Sox
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Adam Dunn agrees to four-year contract with White Sox
Discussion:
The Goessling Game, Mr. Irrelevant … and The Nationals Enquirer
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
The White Sox may get Adam Dunn AND Paul Konerko
Discussion:
Babes Love Baseball
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox sign Varitek for one year — The Red Sox have signed Jason Varitek to a one-year deal worth $2 million according to a baseball source. The deal includes $300,000 in incentives that likely would be based on how often he plays. — It seems apparent now that the Red Sox are prepared …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Fanhouse MLB Blog, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and NESN.com
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Okajima will be non-tendered — BOSTON — The Red Sox do not plan to tender a contract to left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima, a club source said Wednesday night. — Okajima, who was paid $2.8 million in 2010 ($2.75 million in salary, an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses), is arbitration-eligible.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Toeing the Rubber, River Avenue Blues, NESN.com, MetsBlog.com and Over the Monster
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Three teams show interest in Werth — At this time of year, markets shift quickly. But right now, the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers are seen as the most serious suitors for free agent outfielder Jayson Werth, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
Tiger Tales, MLB Rumors, ESPN and Bless You Boys
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Red Sox caught up in Russell Martin dealings — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — Tonight's deadline to tender arbitration doesn't hold a great deal of suspense as far as Red Sox [team stats] players are concerned. — What happens with the Los Angeles Dodgers and catcher Russell Martin is another story.
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, True Blue LA, VIN SCULLY IS MY HOMEBOY, MLB Rumors and Halos Heaven
ESPN:
Source: Jason Varitek back in Boston — Longtime Boston Red Sox captain Jason Varitek is returning to the team for another season despite interest from at least one other team, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick on Thursday. — The catcher will sign a one-year deal for $2 million …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Re-Sign Jason Varitek
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs and BronxBanterBlog.com
Christina Kahrl / Baseball Prospectus:
A Dirty Half-Dozen — As I gear up for my latest dose of fun …
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds Blog
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Rangers make house call to Cliff Lee in Arkansas, but lefty ace likely …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and IT IS HIGH!
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: New York Yankees tell Derek Jeter they'll improve offer — The New York Yankees informed Derek Jeter's agent, Casey Close, on Thursday that the team was willing to improve its original three-year, $45 million offer, according to sources close to the negotiations.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB Rumors and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Yankees increase offer to Jeter — The Yankees have increased their offer to Derek Jeter. How much they increased it, however, remains to be seen. — A source with knowledge of the team's thinking said the Bombers had finally moved from their initial three-year, $45 million offer …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
David Waldstein / Bats:
Takahashi and Angels Close to a Deal — Hisanori Takahashi, a versatile pitcher for the Mets in 2010, is close to agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Los Angeles Angels pending a physical, according to an executive with knowledge of the situation. — Takahashi, a left-handed pitcher …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com and Halos Heaven
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
John Maine likely won't receive contract offer from Mets; Angel Pagan, R.A. Dickey should get deals — John Maine's five-year career as a Met will likely end Thursday, when the team is expected to non-tender the pitcher, making him a free agent. — Angel Pagan, R.A. Dickey …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Mets Fever
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Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
UPDATED: Giants and Pat Burrell agree to discounted, one-year contract (10) — UPDATED: This file was rewritten at 8:50 p.m. with confirmation, plus more info on the signing. — A couple hours ago, I was on KNBR with Ralph and Tom and told them that Pat Burrell wasn't a front-burner priority …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, SULLY BASEBALL, Fanhouse MLB Blog and El Lefty Malo
RELATED:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Pat Burrell gets 1-year deal with SF Giants
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Bottom9 Baseball and baseballmusings.com
MLB.com:
Orioles decline contract offer to Matt Albers — The Orioles today announced that they have declined to tender a contract offer to RHP MATT ALBERS, allowing him to become a free agent. — Albers, 27, was acquired by the Orioles on December 12, 2007 from Houston as part of a deal that sent SS Miguel Tejada to the Astros.
