Top News:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Kerry Wood returns to Cubs for 1 year, $1.5 million — In a move that surprised even the Cubs, former staff ace and closer Kerry Wood agreed to return to his baseball roots and sign with his original team for one year, $1.5 million, according to a source. — In taking the below-market deal …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Source: Red Sox to sign Bobby Jenks — Bobby Jenks is changing his Sox from white to red. — The former Chicago White Sox closer agreed to a two-year, $12 million with the Boston Red Sox, pending a physical, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
MLB.com, USA Today, SOX & Dawgs, Full Count, Fenway West, The Joy of Sox, baseballmusings.com, It's About The Money and NoMaas.org
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Wood back in ‘family’ — Reliever signs 1-year deal for $1.5 million to return to Cubs — Kerry Wood with Ryan Dempster at Ron Santo's funeral. (Steve Green, Associated Press / December 10, 2010) — In what may be remembered as the Pizza Summit, Kerry Wood and Cubs general manager …
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Source: Yankees “exploring” Rafael Soriano — UPDATE, 4:45 p.m.: A Yankees official just downplayed the idea that they will go after Rafael Soriano. “The price is going to be too high,” the official said. — Brian Cashman said last week he wouldn't pay “closer money” for Kerry Wood to return to the Yankees as a setup man.
Discussion:
TYU, HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily and River Avenue Blues
Fox Sports:
A's acquire Nats slugger Willingham — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — The A's, continuing their quest to upgrade their offense, have acquired outfielder Josh Willingham from the Nationals.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Federal Baseball
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Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
UPDATED: Nationals agree to trade Josh Willingham to Athletics
UPDATED: Nationals agree to trade Josh Willingham to Athletics
Discussion:
NATS INSIDER, MLB.com, The Goessling Game, Mr. Irrelevant …, Athletics Nation and The Nationals Enquirer
Fox Sports:
A's in talks with Nats for Willingham
A's in talks with Nats for Willingham
Discussion:
Nationals Journal, Federal Baseball, Lookout Landing, Athletics Nation, mlbbuzz, SFGate and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
A's Acquire Josh Willingham
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Edgar Renteria dislikes Giants' $1M offer — ORLANDO — Edgar Renteria understands the best part of his major league career is over and baseball is a business, but he still hoped for better treatment from the San Francisco Giants after helping the team to the World Series in October.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Renteria: Giants' Offer Showed “A Lack Of Respect” — Edgar Renteria didn't care for the Giants' recent $1MM contract offer, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes. “That offer from the Giants was a lack of respect. A total disrespect,” said Renteria. “To play for a million dollars …
Discussion:
The Fish Pond and Bugs & Cranks
Associated Press:
Yankees' Rivera admits joining Red Sox was ‘real’ possibility … NEW YORK (AP) — Mariano Rivera admitted the unthinkable had been a possibility. — The Boston Red Sox offered him a chance to turn in his pinstripes and switch sides in baseball's fiercest rivalry. — “It was real.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, ESPN, ESPN, Fanhouse MLB Blog and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Mo says Red Sox made pitch for his services
Mo says Red Sox made pitch for his services
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Full Count
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox To Sign Bobby Jenks
Red Sox To Sign Bobby Jenks
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, Yankeeist and YFSF
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Source: Detroit Tigers, Magglio Ordonez OK 1-year, $10M deal — Veteran outfielder Magglio Ordonez has reached agreement with the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $10 million contract, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com. — Ordonez, 36, hit .303 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs in 84 games …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, TigerBlog, The Daily Fungo and Yahoo! Sports
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Tigers To Re-Sign Magglio Ordonez
Tigers To Re-Sign Magglio Ordonez
Discussion:
Tiger Tales, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Agent: New York Yankees, Pedro Feliciano make progress on deal — NEW YORK — The agent for lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano says that he and the Yankees are making “a little progress” in contract negotiations. — “We are having ongoing conversations,” Feliciano's agent, Melvin Roman said.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Bronx Baseball Daily, Bats, Yankees Daily and MLB Rumors
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Mike Axisa / River Avenue Blues:
Yankees getting close to deal with Feliciano
Yankees getting close to deal with Feliciano
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com, HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily, Fanhouse MLB Blog and It's About The Money
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Looking At Aardsma, Balfour, Coffey — The Rockies have spoken to the Mariners about a possible David Aardsma trade, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Colorado has also shown interest in right-handers Grant Balfour and Todd Coffey, though Renck tweets that Balfour …
Discussion:
Mariners blog and JSOnline
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Los Angeles Dodgers, ex-Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Guerrier finalize three-year, $12 million agreement — In what could be their last significant free-agent signing of the winter, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their three-year, $12 million agreement with reliever Matt Guerrier on Thursday …
Discussion:
True Blue LA and ESPN
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Inbox: How are Astros addressing needs? — Beat reporter Brian McTaggart answers fans' questions … There are a lot of question marks with the 2011 team. Which is the biggest need, and what are the plans on addressing them? — Mike S., Midland, Texas
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
James Bailey / Baseball America:
The Best Baseball Books Of 2010 — In baseball literary circles, 2010 will be remembered as the year of the biography. We had noteworthy releases this year on Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Joe Cronin, and Charles Radbourn. Roger Maris fell short of Cooperstown …
Discussion:
Tiger Tales and Bailey's Baseball Book Reviews