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 …
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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
Discussion:
NATS INSIDER, MLB.com, The Goessling Game, Mr. Irrelevant …, Athletics Nation and The Nationals Enquirer
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
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Full Count
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
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
Discussion:
Tiger Tales, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Associated Press:
Rangers steal team-record nine bases in fifth straight loss — BOSTON — Darnell McDonald spent the day in Boston, hanging out just in case he was needed. A few hours later, he saved the Red Sox from another embarrassing loss. — McDonald, called up from the minors earlier in the day …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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
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
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
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
