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7:40 PM ET, January 5, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Amanda Comak / Washington Times:
Nats GM Mike Rizzo says nothing has changed with regard to Prince Fielder  —  The Washington Nationals and Prince Fielder.  Prince Fielder and the Washington Nationals.  With each day that ends with the slugging first baseman still on the free-agent market, the assumption grows that when it comes …
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Washington's end game for Fielder
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:   Business of Scott Boras unfinished
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Yankees likely to pass on signing Japanese SS Hiroyuki Nakajima, may re-sign Eric Chavez  —  Nakajima is eligible to return to Japan, be free agent next winter  —  Japan's Hiroyuki Nakajima is heading to the MLB next season, but it likely won't be with the Yankees.
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Nakajima, Yankees unable to reach deal  —  With no agreement, veteran shortstop returns to Seibu Lions  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees announced on Thursday that they were unable to sign infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, who will instead continue to play for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
MacDougal on verge of signing one-year deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are close to re-signing right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal, who would round out their bullpen, to a one-year, $1 million contract.  —  MacDougal, who turns 35 in March, was signed a year ago by the Dodgers …
Fox Sports:
Zambrano completes Marlins' circus act  —  To: Rick Jaffe, Senior VP, FOXSports.com  —  Much as I enjoy covering all 30 teams as the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com, the time has come for a change.  —  I am writing to ask that you allow me to cover the Miami Marlins full time next season.
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Bruce Levine / ESPN:   Source: Cubs deal Carlos Zambrano
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Rangers hire Josh Hamilton's father-in-law as the outfielder's new accountability partner  —  From Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com: … Chadwick will travel on the road with the Rangers, watching over Hamilton's daily activities and providing him a steady source of encouragement …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera pleads no contest to drunken driving, will not get jail time  —  Miguel Cabrera DUI arrest: The Florida state attorney's office today released a police video in Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera's Feb. 16 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence.
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers start to raise railings  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers are in the early stages of installation of railings throughout Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in an effort to make the park safer for fans.  —  Shortly after 39-yard-old Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone died …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Associated Press:
Mets GM doesn't expect major moves before spring training  —  NEW YORK — Expecting no major moves before the start of spring training next month, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson thinks his payroll-cutting team can improve on last year's 77-85 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East.
MLB:
Source: Manny Ramirez plans workout  —  Manny Ramirez plans to work out for teams later this month in an effort to return to the major leagues, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.  —  Ramirez  —  There were no immediate word on which teams are interested in watching Ramirez work out, Olney reported.
Discussion: NESN.com and HardballTalk
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Jenks has a second procedure  —  More fragments taken from back  —  BOBBY JENKS Late start in spring training  —  Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks recently had a second spinal decompression procedure after experiencing discomfort following the first procedure in mid-December.
Josh Weinstock / FanGraphs Baseball:
Explaining the Command Disconnect  —  We only remember the most exciting plays.  Diving catches, game-winning hits, high-pressure situations — these are the things that fill our memories and our imaginations.  But baseball isn't always exciting — often it's far from it.
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels open contract talks with Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar  —  Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto has had preliminary discussions with the agents for second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar about multi-year deals that would prevent the infielders from becoming free agents after 2012.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers, Napoli likely to settle on one-year deal  —  GM Daniels discusses potential extensions, makeup of bullpen  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers, while focused on signing pitcher Yu Darvish, have not shut down all other business.  They are still discussing long-term contracts for certain players …
Discussion: Lone Star Ball and Rangers Blog
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Japan IF Kawasaki says he has Mariners' invite  —  KOBE, Japan — Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki says he's been invited to spring training by the Seattle Mariners.  —  “I'll be going to Arizona in February to compete for a job,” he said Thursday.  —  Kawasaki batted .267 with 161 hits …
Discussion: Lookout Landing and HardballTalk
 
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 More News: 
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Photo of the day: Is Alex Rodriguez a nerd or a hipster?
Discussion: NotGraphs Baseball and Deadspin
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets unlikely to re-sign Willie Harris
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Designate Elih Villanueva For Assignment
Discussion: Fish Stripes
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Mr. Met Keeps His Head Up
Discussion: HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Angels ‘very unlikely’ to add closer Ryan Madson
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds remain in market for depth in left field
Discussion: Cincinnati Reds and MLB Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Return of Angels slugger Mark Trumbo delayed again
Discussion: SI Tracking Blog
Stan McNeal / Sporting News Stan McNeal Feed RSS:
Astros' new GM adds stats guru, ex-cheerleader to staff
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
 

 
From WeSmirch:

CNN:
Exclusive: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seen physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN

Mike Barnes / The Hollywood Reporter:
Dabney Coleman, ‘9 to 5’ Star Who Made a Career Out of Playing Jerks, Dies at 92

Katherine Schaffstall / In Touch Weekly:
Ben and J. Lo Pictured Together for the 1st Time in 47 Days, Reuniting for Their Kids

 
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