Top News:
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Crawford deal won't turn Cameron into castoff — Veteran will serve as key backup to injury-prone outfielders — BOSTON — Five minutes after signing Carl Crawford, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein called Mike Cameron and told him he's still more than wanted in Boston.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Red Sox made seven-year offer to Cliff Lee to raise price for Yankees on coveted free agent: source — The Yankees are locked in a waiting game as Cliff Lee mulls his potential landing spot and the Bombers may have the Red Sox to blame for prolonging the process.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Sports Illustrated:
Rangers, Yanks play waiting game … In the race for free agent left-hander Cliff Lee, people familiar with the talks indicate that the the New York Yankees have a big advantage over the Texas Rangers in terms of total guaranteed dollars offered and also have one more guaranteed year currently on the table.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Yankeeist, Bronx Baseball Daily, HardballTalk, Texas Rangers and MLB Rumors
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Boston Red Sox' contract to Carl Crawford raises questions — With the $142 million deal they gave to Carl Crawford, who has spent nine seasons proving that Fenway Park damages every part of his game, the Boston Red Sox just made the Washington Nationals look smart.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Clubhouse Insider, The LoHud Yankees Blog and DRaysBay
NY Daily News:
Madden: Werth wins, many lose at meetings … Say It Ain't So — “If someone accuses me of not being born here I can go to my filing cabinet and pick up my real birth certificate. The man (President Obama) has dodged everything. Why? Because he's hiding something.”
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Cliff Lee's waiting game may mean he's considering return to Texas over Yankees offer: sources — There was no movement in the Cliff Lee saga Friday, which, given the Yankees' hefty seven-year offer, might not be good news for the Bombers. — The Yankees made their seven-year bid …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox and Texas Rangers
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Crawford: I wanted to stay in AL East, am willing to bat (or play) …
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Boston Red Sox to announce Carl Crawford signing on Saturday
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NESN.com and SOX & Dawgs
Ken Belson / New York Times:
In Choice of Yankees or Rangers, Lee Is Picking a Tax Rate, Too — For Cliff Lee, choosing between the Yankees and the Rangers is about more than deciding which team will give him the best chance to win a World Series ring. If both teams offer him similar seven-year contracts, it will also be about taxes.
RELATED:
David Lennon / Newsday:
On the Mets beat — Winter Meetings Post-Mortem: Alderson, Reyes and Boof
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
STEINBRENNER NOT WORRIED ABOUT 7-YEAR DEAL FOR LEE
Discussion:
HardballTalk and It's About The Money
Ken Rosenthal / mlbbuzz:
Details of Arroyo's deferrals — For all the money getting spent this offseason, deferred salary is all the rage. — Recent free-agent signings by the Dodgers, White Sox and Cubs included deferred money, and the Reds' three-year, $35 million extension of right-hander Bronson Arroyo was particularly unique.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Cincinnati Reds Blog
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.
RELATED:
Caryn / metsgrrl.com:
BLOGGER CONFERENCE CALL WITH SANDY ALDERSON.
Discussion:
Kranepool Society and The Mets Police
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Third baseman Evan Longoria would welcome long-term extension to be Tampa Bay Ray for life — ST. PETERSBURG — Okay, so not all the news is bad for the Rays this week. — All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria said Friday that he would like to stay with the Rays for his whole career …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Rays Index and MLB Rumors
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees have made one-year offer to former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin: source — The Yankees plan on giving Jesus Montero a shot to win the starting catching job this spring, but the phenom may have to beat out a veteran other than Jorge Posada for the gig.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily and River Avenue Blues
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers ink Castro to Minor League deal — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers signed infielder Juan Castro to a Minor League contract on Saturday, with an invite to Major League Spring Training camp. It will be Castro's fourth stint in the organization. — Castro, 38, will receive $500,000 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Gwynn deal with Dodgers official after physical — LOS ANGELES — Tony Gwynn passed his physical exam on Saturday and officially became the Dodgers' fourth outfielder and defensive specialist. — Whether he becomes the starting left fielder is to be determined.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
