Top News:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers boost offer, stay in the Cliff Lee game — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The end didn't arrive Thursday for the Texas Rangers in their pursuit of free agent Cliff Lee, as some club officials had expected it would. — Instead, there is renewed optimism that they have made the left-hander's decision …
Discussion:
New York Times, Athletics Nation, ESPN and baseballmusings.com
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Ebenezer Samuel / NY Daily News:
CC Sabathia says Yankees are team to beat in AL East, not Red Sox, despite Boston's big spending — The Red Sox enjoyed a huge week, signing prized free agent outfielder Carl Crawford and acquiring first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the top power hitter on the trade market, from the San Diego Padres.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, Twinkie Town and ESPN
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Texas optimistic Lee offer made impression — ARLINGTON — Now, they wait. — Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg, assistant general manager Thad Levine and co-owner Ray Davis were back in Texas on Friday after meeting with free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee, his wife, Kristen, and his agent, Darek Braunecker.
Discussion:
MLB.com Hot Stove blog
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
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers present Cliff Lee with menu of contract offers, now wait
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
David Waldstein / New York Times:
With Pitchers' Contracts, 7 Is Unlucky Number
Discussion:
Seattle Times and HardballTalk
Buster Olney / ESPN:
For Cliff Lee suitors, hope and discomfort
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, Rotoworld.com and Fox Sports
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Comparatively speaking . . . It remains to be seen whose roster …
Discussion:
ESPN, Pinstripe Alley and Associated Press
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Red Sox make Russell Martin offer
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible …, TYU, HardballTalk, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, River Avenue Blues, Dodgers Blog, Bronx Baseball Daily and ESPN
USA Today:
Red Sox nearly equal Yankees in future salary expenditures
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yankeeist, It's About The Money and Fenway West
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Derek Jeter's contract: A breakdown
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, THE BOOK, MLB Rumors, Bronx Baseball Daily and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Angels Reach Agreement With Scott Downs — The Angels have agreed to terms on a three-year, $15MM contract with Scott Downs. Peter Gammons was the first to report the numbers of the deal, while FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal adds that the deal is pending a physical and Downs can earn …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, YFSF, HardballTalk, Halos Heaven, MLB Daily Dish and Full Count
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Recap: Sandy Alderson Conf. Call with Bloggers — Tonight on a conference call with Mets bloggers, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said the team has identified the final coaching staff, but, due to some administrative issues, he will make the formal announcement either Monday or Tuesday of next week.
David Lennon / Newsday:
On the Mets beat — Winter Meetings Post-Mortem: Alderson, Reyes and Boof — Just a few finishing thoughts on the Mets' week at the winter meetings: — Being in Orlando, I missed the talk-radio outrage over the Mets' relative inactivity at the winter meetings.
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Sandy Alderson's long-term focus may benefit Mets in long term …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Tedquarters
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals still in on Carl Pavano — While the Nationals would be reluctant to offer free agent starting pitcher Carl Pavano a multiple-year contract, they remain in touch with agent Tom O'Connell. General Manager Mike Rizzo spoke with O'Connell yesterday before leaving the winter meetings.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and JSOnline
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Not satisfied with the current product, the Cardinals are trying to change center fielder Colby Rasmus — A follow-up to this post can be found right HERE. — The drama continues between the Cardinals' coaching staff and young outfielder Colby Rasmus. — It was only six months ago …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Orioles To Re-Sign Cesar Izturis, Not Nick Green — 6:52pm: The Orioles say that Green has not agreed to a contract, tweets Connolly. — 4:35pm: The Orioles have re-signed Cesar Izturis to a one-year deal worth $1.5MM, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links).
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Hall of Fame pitcher born 30,000 days ago . . . Happy “anniversary” (of a sorts) to Yankees legend Whitey Ford. Today marks 30,000 days since his birth. — By and large, Yankee legends don't live that long. Ford is 82 years and almost two months. — He's seventh all-time in franchise WAR, with 55.3.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and It's About The Money
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
Could Gregg unseat Koji as O's closer? — The Orioles made a two-year offer worth between $8 to $10 million to free agent Kevin Gregg at this week's winter meetings. As far as I know, the two sides remain in negotiations and the Orioles still think they have a shot at Gregg …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, Federal Baseball, HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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:
The Mets Police and Tedquarters
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
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds, Red Reporter, Redleg Nation and Bucs Dugout
