Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Agree To Sign Cliff Lee — The wait is over. In a surprising development that leaves two top American League teams empty-handed, Cliff Lee has agreed to sign a five-year, $120MM deal with the Phillies. The contract includes a $27.5MM vesting option for 2016 with a $12.5MM buyout, plus partial no-trade clause.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, YFSF, Sabernomics, Yankeeist, TYU, FanGraphs Baseball, Amazin' Avenue, The Nats Blog, Over the Monster, Bronx Baseball Daily, sox1fan.com, Rays Index, Full Count, HardballTalk, Red Sox Beacon, Red Sox Monster, Al's Ramblings, Halos Heaven, The iYankees Blog and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Cliff Lee is going to Philadelphia Phillies — The Rangers were told Monday night that Lee is going to the Phillies, It is a done deal — YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! (RC)^2 (Ar See Squared) Roy-Roy-Cole-Cliff. The Phantastic Phour! YESSSSS!!!!!!
Discussion:
NESN.com, BronxBanterBlog.com, HardballTalk, TYU, MLB Rumors, The Sommer Frieze, Mets Merized Online, LA Times Sports Blog, The LoHud Yankees Blog, New York Post, Bronx Baseball Daily, The Good Phight, Pinstripe Alley, MetsBlog.com, lenNY's Yankees, Sliding Into Home, Phillies Nation, Lookout Landing, Fanhouse MLB Blog, The700Level.com, The Zo Zone and Baseball Time in Arlington
NY Daily News:
Martino: Lee might've been better taking the money — In signing with Phillies, Cliff Lee chases memory of World Series run, but he may regret decision — Tuesday, December 14th 2010, 4:00 AM — Cliff Lee returns to Philadelphia where he faces the Yankees in the 2009 World Series …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Texas Rangers, Crossing Broad and SNY
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Best. Rotation. Ever? — After a six week dance with New York and Texas, Cliff Lee has apparently decided to spurn them both and sign with the [Mystery Team] Philadelphia Phillies. If the Jayson Werth deal was a shocker, this one breaks the Richter Scale.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Sources: Cliff Lee to return to Phillies — The numbers had been crunched and all the scenarios exhausted Monday night when Cliff Lee finally made his decision. — He picked up the phone, thanked Rangers general manager Jon Daniels for his time in Texas and revealed he was signing with the Philadelphia Phillies.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Phillies swoop in and bring back Lee — ARLINGTON — Free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee is headed back to Philadelphia. — The Rangers worked as hard as they could to re-sign Lee, but their pursuit came to an end on Monday when he informed the club that he was signing with the Phillies.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Nationals Baseball, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Lone Star Ball
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Lee spurns Yanks, Rangers, returns to Phils … Almost a year after they traded him, Cliff Lee is headed back to the Philadelphia Phillies. — Lee, the most highly sought pitcher on this winter's free-agent market, turned down more lucrative offers from the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers …
New York Times:
Cliff Lee Accepts Late Bid by the Phillies
Discussion:
Bats, NY Daily News, HardballTalk, Associated Press, YFSF, BOSTON IRISH and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Cliff Lee's return simply stunning
Discussion:
Seamheads.com, Faith and Fear in Flushing, ESPN and Batter's Box Interactive …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Possible Fits For Joe Blanton
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, JSOnline and Royals Review
Fox Sports:
Phillies still bidding for prize ace
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Hardball Times, The Good Phight, Sports Illustrated, South Side Sox, Federal Baseball, Talking Chop, Pinstripe Alley, Phillies Nation, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Viva El Birdos, Lookout Landing, The700Level.com, MLB Daily Dish, New Jersey Online, The Zo Zone, Royals Review, Crossing Broad, River Avenue Blues, lenNY's Yankees, Boston Globe, Texas Rangers and MLB Rumors
Ted Berg / Tedquarters:
Hold it together — Fun fact: If you asked me yesterday …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Patrick Flood and Mets Merized Online
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Phillies, Red Sox Discussed Joe Blanton
Discussion:
Clubhouse Insider, Phillies Nation and Projo Sox Blog
New York Post:
Yankees left lacking after losing Lee again
Discussion:
Seattle Times, ESPN, The Seattle Times, Full Count, Yankeeist, MLB.com, The Joy of Sox and NY Daily News
Matthew Pouliot / HardballTalk:
Let's not pencil the Phillies into the World Series just yet
Discussion:
Optimistic Mets Fan
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Darek Braunecker, Agent for Cliff Lee, Is Getting Noticed
Discussion:
New York Yankees Fan Blog
USA Today:
Stunner: Cliff Lee headed back to Phillies
Discussion:
New York Times, newyorkstateofsports.com, Babes Love Baseball and Phillies Nation
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees waiting after making first offer to Cliff Lee
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
MLBReporters / MLB.com Hot Stove blog:
Yankees come to terms with Russell Martin — NEW YORK — The Yankees have agreed to terms on a contract with Russell Martin, multiple sources told MLB.com on Monday. Details of the deal, which is contingent on a physical and will not be made official until Martin does so, were not immediately available.
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Yankees agree to contract with Martin — NEW YORK — The Yankees have agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent catcher Russell Martin, multiple sources told MLB.com on Tuesday. Details of the deal were not immediately available, but it is expected to be announced at some point on Tuesday.
Discussion:
MLB.com Hot Stove blog, New Jersey Online, True Blue LA and Chicago Breaking Sports
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Reach Agreement With Russell Martin — The Yankees have reached an agreement with catcher Russell Martin, reports MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. With Jorge Posada moving into a designated hitter role next year, Martin should be the Yankees' starting catcher.
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible … and Full Count
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Yankees sign catcher Russell Martin to one-year contract — Moving on quickly after Cliff Lee turned them down, the Yankees “have agreed to terms on a contract with Russell Martin,” according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. It's believed to be a one-year deal, although the Yankees …
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com and baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Source: Yanks to sign Russell Martin
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com, VIN SCULLY IS MY HOMEBOY and MLB
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Yankees take risk on Martin; Albers on Sox radar
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
MLB:
Oakland Athletics seal deal with new designated hitter Hideki Matsui — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics have landed their new designated hitter. — The A's and free agent slugger Hideki Matsui finalized a one-year contract Tuesday after he passed a physical.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Boston Herald and lenNY's Yankees
RELATED:
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Source: Kevin Gregg, Baltimore Orioles close; Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals lingering — BOSTON — Right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg is close to signing a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles worth $12 million, according to a league source. — The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Full Count, HardballTalk and Associated Press
