Top News:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Adrian Gonzalez to Red Sox? — BOSTON — While their pursuit of free agents Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth has grabbed most of the attention, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has quietly been laying the groundwork for what could be the team's biggest offensive acquisition since Manny Ramirez.
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: If Boston Red Sox landed Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon was out — BOSTON — The Red Sox offered reliever Mariano Rivera a two-year, $30 million deal and were prepared to non-tender closer Jonathan Papelbon, according to a baseball source with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, TYU, Full Count, SBNation.com and Sliding Into Home
NY Daily News:
Deal imminent: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees making ‘substantial progress’ in contract negotiations — Day-long negotiations between the Yankees and star shortstop Derek Jeter have yielded “substantial progress,” according to someone familiar with the talks.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Fox Sports:
Gonzalez sweepstakes heating up again — FOX Sports — The Adrian Gonzalez sweepstakes are back on. — The Cubs and Red Sox are among the teams pursuing a trade for the Padres' first baseman, according to major league sources. — The Padres have fielded offers from multiple teams for Gonzalez …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Tiger Tales
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Gonzalez-Sox talks heat up — We have confirmed an ESPN-Boston report that trade talks between the Red Sox and Padres on first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have heated up. — The two sides have discussed some of Boston's major prospects - Anthony Rizzo and Casey Kelly among them - according to a major league source.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and Over the Monster
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Brian Cashman rappels 22-story building … STAMFORD, Conn. — Wearing a spiked wig with a black bandana featuring white skulls, an unshaven Brian Cashman, the New York Yankees general manager, rappelled from the side of a 22-story building at dawn Friday. — He had no net, just a safety harness …
Discussion:
Mets Today
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Cashman's alter ego makes it 22 stories and tells the tale
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
For Cashman and Yankees, One Down, Jeter to Go
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and Bombers Beat
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees, Rivera agree on 2-year deal
Discussion:
Associated Press and Angels blog
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Sox deal remains Beltre's preference
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Full Count, ESPN and Associated Press
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Rivera and Yanks Near Two-Year Deal
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible …, ESPN and Sons of Steve Garvey
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Closer Mariano Rivera to sign two-year, $30 million deal with New …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, The Sommer Frieze, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, Yankeeist, Subway Squawkers, Respect Jeter's Gangster, The Joy of Sox, ESPN, lenNY's Yankees, It's About The Money, MLB Rumors, Blogging The Bombers, Lady Loves Pinstripes, Bronx Baseball Daily, BronxBanterBlog.com, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports, Fanhouse MLB Blog, The iYankees Blog, River Avenue Blues, NESN.com and My Pinstripes
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Ron Santo dead at 70 — Chicago Cubs icon failed to reach Hall of Fame — Ron Santo (left) and Billy Williams at the Cubs' spring training camp in 1971. (Tribune archive photo) — Legendary Chicago Cubs player and broadcaster Ron Santo died Thursday night in Arizona. He was 70.
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs great Ron Santo dies at 70
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit, Seattle Times and JSOnline
Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Ron Santo, Stalwart for Cubs, Dies at 70
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Legendary Cubs Player and Broadcaster Ron Santo Dead at 70
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Jenks, Martin, Okajima among 52 non-tenders — Baseball's annual non-tender deadline came and went late Thursday night, and the already-plentiful free-agency holiday stocking was stuffed with even more goodies. — Intriguing options all over the league will make the bidding season that much more heated …
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and Gonzo and ‘The Show’
RELATED:
USA Today:
Cubs legend Ron Santo dead at 70
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, BronxBanterBlog.com and Yahoo! Sports
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Report: White Sox, Dunn agree to four-year pact
Discussion:
Nationals Inquisition and Britt's Bird Watch
Bill Center / SignOnSanDiego.com:
Are the Padres signing S.D. native Aaron Harang? — Are the Padres replacing one native San Diegan in their starting rotation with another? — The club could be close to signing free agent right-handed starter Aaron Harang, according to two sources who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak on the matter.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk, MetsBlog.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers Ballpark targeted for new video board — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are ready to add a new video board to the Ballpark in Arlington that will go on the roof of the Home Run Porch and be almost six times larger than the current one. — The video board will be part of a $13 million upgrade …
RELATED:
Fred Claire / MLB.com:
Murphy is Hall-worthy as person, player — Two-time NL MVP just as impressive off the field as on it — Dale Murphy finds himself on the Hall of Fame ballot for the 13th consecutive year, a reminder of the time that has passed since his 18-year Major League career ended in 1993.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Wakefield: 2011 ‘probably’ his last year — CAP CANA, Dominican Republic — Tim Wakefield indicated today that the coming season would be his last as a player. — “There are still some numbers I want to achieve. But I'm not going to put that much pressure on myself knowing that this probably …
Discussion:
NESN.com, FenwayNationWorld and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Fox Sports:
Rangers looking at Greinke as well — Zack Greinke is officially on the Rangers' wish list now. — 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. — A trade for Royals right-hander Zack Greinke …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Carlos Villanueva — The Blue Jays have acquired Carlos Villanueva from the Brewers for a player to be named later, according to the team's Twitter page. The 27-year-old right-hander posted 11.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 52 2/3 innings of relief last year.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Yahoo! Sports, Al's Ramblings and Batter's Box Interactive …
