Top News:
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Texas Rangers Make Multi-Offers to Cliff Lee — THIS IS BREAKING NEWS... Texas Rangers Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg called an 8pm CT conference call with print media only tonight to announce that the club has made an offer to Cliff Lee. While Greenberg would not release details on the offer …
Discussion:
Foul Territory
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers present Cliff Lee with menu of contract offers, now wait — No matter what comes of the Cliff Lee situation, the new Rangers ownership crossed a major threshold Thursday — No matter what comes of the Cliff Lee situation, the new Rangers ownership crossed a major threshold Thursday.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
David Waldstein / New York Times:
With Pitchers' Contracts, 7 Is Unlucky Number — Seven years. Those two simple words are enough to send a shiver of fear through almost any general manager contemplating signing a free-agent pitcher to a contract of that length. — There is some history of success with five-year contracts …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
USA Today:
Red Sox nearly equal Yankees in future salary expenditures
Discussion:
myyesnetwork.com, Yankeeist, It's About The Money, Fenway West and Projo Sox Blog
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Derek Jeter's contract: A breakdown
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB Rumors, BronxBanterBlog.com and HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Sources: Rangers to meet with Lee today
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and Texas Rangers
ESPN:
Sources: Yanks offer Cliff Lee 7 years
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Bronx Baseball Daily, Yahoo! Sports, Bats, Kranepool Society, HardballTalk, MLB and New York Times
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Not our job: Cliff Lee rep won't give Texas Rangers number
Discussion:
ESPN, Rotoworld.com, HardballTalk and Sliding Into Home
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Reds, Jay Bruce agree to deal — The Cincinnati Reds have reached agreement on a six-year, guaranteed $51 million contract with outfielder Jay Bruce, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — Bruce — The deal includes a club option for a seventh year that could bring the overall value …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds To Extend Jay Bruce — The Reds have agreed to extend Jay Bruce on a six-year, $51MM deal, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The extension will keep Bruce in Cincinnati through at least 2016 - longer than any other member of the Reds is under contract for - and pay him $50MM in salary over the next six years.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Comparatively speaking . . . It remains to be seen whose roster — the Red Sox' or Yankees' — is better, but in terms of who has significant players heading into their prime years, the acquisitions of 28-year-old Adrian Gonzalez and 29-year-old Carl Crawford seem to put Boston in a better position for the next few years.
Discussion:
ESPN, Associated Press and Pinstripe Alley
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Potent lineup back to future — With Dunn addition, Sox could have power group much like their 2008 AL Central champs — White Sox introduce new slugger Adam Dunn at U.S. Cellular Field. (Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune / December 3, 2010) — ORLANDO, Fla. — Now that the White Sox …
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
After signing Konerko, Sox turn to relievers — With both Jenks and Putz headed elsewhere, they need to shore up bullpen — ORLANDO, Fla. — With Paul Konerko joining A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Dunn on the payroll, the White Sox figure to be close to a club record checkbook-busting $130 million next season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Not satisfied with the current product, the Cardinals are trying to change center fielder Colby Rasmus — The drama continues between the Cardinals' coaching staff and young outfielder Colby Rasmus. — It was only six months ago that the now 24-year-old Rasmus requested a trade away …
Discussion:
The Cardinal Nation blog and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Fox Sports:
Nats trying to foster good will in D.C. — Jayson Werth is one of three big contracts the Nats have ponied up for over the past year. — Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. He is in his 35th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America …
Byron Kerr:
Strasburg's goal: “Best shape of my life” — Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is rehabilitating on schedule from Tommy John surgery in early September. Strasburg is in good spirits and says he is one or two months away from baseball activities. — “They have a plan in place that is normal …
Anthony DiComo / Mets Cetera:
The New York Mets and the curse of Santa Claus — Beware, Mets fans: the team revealed Tuesday that David Wright will play the role of Santa Claus at next Tuesday's holiday party, one of the club's most popular annual charitable endeavors. But like an action shot on the cover of Sports Illustrated …
Discussion:
MLB.com
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Small victories rather than big wins for Dodgers at winter meetings — General Manager Ned Colletti is generally pleased with the outcome of the meetings, which includes one-year deals with Vicente Padilla, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Dioner Navarro. — Starting pitcher Vicente Padilla has been re-signed …
Discussion:
MLB.com, True Blue LA, Yahoo! Sports and Los Angeles Times
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Sandy Alderson's long-term focus may benefit Mets in long term but could test patience of fans — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Subtlety and patience. In the overwrought world of New York baseball, the public is not conditioned to celebrate those qualities, particularly in the wintertime.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Tedquarters
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Twins Would Consider Trading Slowey — The Twins would consider trading Kevin Slowey - especially if they re-sign Carl Pavano - reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman says the Twins have actually received inquiries on ace Francisco Liriano from the Yankees and others, but a team official can't imagine moving the lefty.
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