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, TYU, FanGraphs Baseball, Yankeeist, Amazin' Avenue, Sabernomics, Over the Monster, Bronx Baseball Daily, sox1fan.com, Rays Index, The Nats Blog, 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, TYU, BronxBanterBlog.com, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, The Sommer Frieze, Mets Merized Online, LA Times Sports Blog, Yankeeist, The LoHud Yankees Blog, The Good Phight, Pinstripe Alley, Bronx Baseball Daily, New York Post, MetsBlog.com, lenNY's Yankees, Fanhouse MLB Blog, Sliding Into Home, Phillies Nation, Lookout Landing, The Zo Zone, The700Level.com and Baseball Time in Arlington
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.
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 and Crossing Broad
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Phillies swoop in and bring back Lee
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Dallas Morning News, Nationals Baseball, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Lone Star Ball
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 …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Possible Fits For Joe Blanton
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, JSOnline and Royals Review
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Cliff Lee's return simply stunning
Discussion:
Seamheads.com, Faith and Fear in Flushing, ESPN and Batter's Box Interactive …
Ted Berg / Tedquarters:
Hold it together — Fun fact: If you asked me yesterday …
Discussion:
Patrick Flood, MetsBlog.com and Mets Merized Online
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
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Phillies, Red Sox Discussed Joe Blanton
Discussion:
Clubhouse Insider, Phillies Nation and Projo Sox Blog
Fox Sports:
Phillies still bidding for prize ace
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Hardball Times, South Side Sox, Federal Baseball, Talking Chop, Pinstripe Alley, Phillies Nation, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Sports Illustrated, Viva El Birdos, The Good Phight, Lookout Landing, The700Level.com, New Jersey Online, The Zo Zone, MLB Daily Dish, Royals Review, Crossing Broad, River Avenue Blues, lenNY's Yankees, Boston Globe, Texas Rangers and MLB Rumors
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 and The Big Lead
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, True Blue LA, New Jersey Online, The Big Lead and Chicago Breaking Sports
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
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
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, lenNY's Yankees and MLB Rumors
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:
Full Count, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, Purple Row, HardballTalk and Associated Press
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Navarro officially joins Dodgers — Catcher returns to LA to compete for backup role — The Dodgers officially reacquired free-agent catcher Dioner Navarro when he passed his physical exam on Monday. — The former All-Star and former Dodger will compete with A.J. Ellis as backup …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Orioles To Sign Jeremy Accardo — The Orioles agreed to sign Jeremy Accardo to a one-year, $1.08MM deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Accardo, 29 this weekend, saved 30 games and posted a 2.14 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 as the Blue Jays' closer in 2007.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Associated Press:
Reds announce Bruce contract — CINCINNATI (AP) — The small-market Cincinnati Reds know they can't give long-term contracts to just anybody. — They believe Jay Bruce isn't just anybody. — General manager Walt Jocketty officially announced on Tuesday that the Reds and Bruce …
