Top News:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Jorge Posada To Announce Retirement — Jorge Posada will announce his retirement within the next two weeks, a source tells Sweeny Murti of WFAN (via Twitter). Previously, it was reported that Posada wanted to continue playing in 2012 if he could find the right situation.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Getting Blanked, Bronx Baseball Daily, Sliding Into Home and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Yankees' Posada is planning to retire — One by one, the Core Four is bidding farewell. — Catcher Jorge Posada, a member of the New York Yankees for his entire 17-year career, plans to announce his retirement, according to a major league source. — Posada, 40, is not expected …
ESPN:
Source: Jorge Posada to retire — The “Core Four” is down to two. — Posada — New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is planning to retire, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — The source told Olney that Posada, 40, is trying to determine the right time to make an announcement …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and NESN.com
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs acquire Rizzo in trade with Padres — Club expects first baseman to start season in Triple-A — CHICAGO — Jed Hoyer admitted he may have made a mistake calling Anthony Rizzo up to the big leagues last season with the Padres, but that didn't deter the new Cubs general manager …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Amazin' Avenue and Baseball Nation
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenymyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs acquire Anthony Rizzo from Padres in 4-player deal
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and baseballmusings.com
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres acquire Cashner, send Rizzo to Cubs
Discussion:
Chicken Friars, Gaslamp Ball and Mark My Word
Bruce Weber / New York Times:
Andy Carey, 80, Played Third Base for Yankees, Is Dead — Andy Carey, an underappreciated cog in the powerful Yankees machine of the 1950s that won four consecutive American League pennants and two World Series, died on Dec. 15 at his home in Costa Mesa, Calif. He was 80.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
R.A. Dickey / Bats:
In a Hemingway Idyll, Intimations of Tolkien — R. A. Dickey, the Mets pitcher, is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this month to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.
Elinor J. Brecher / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Buehrle welcome in Dade, but his pit bull isn't — County ordinance prohibits breed — The Miami Marlins really wanted left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle. — But a member of his family isn't welcome anywhere in Miami-Dade County. — It's because 18-month-old Slater Buehrle …
Discussion:
Off the Bench and Fish Tank blog
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera making progress after throat surgery — PINE BROOK, N.J. - Soon after doctors discovered that polyps had grown on Mariano Rivera's vocal cords, they assured the Yankees closer that they were almost certainly benign. Yet, Rivera admitted that true relief came …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, HardballTalk and New York Yankees Fan Blog
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Kendrys Morales begins running, can increase baseball activity — Kendrys Morales has begun running on his own body weight and was cleared Friday to “ramp up” some baseball activities, according to a person familiar with the slugger's rehabilitation from a broken left ankle but unauthorized to speak publicly about it.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Angels Sign Jorge Cantu To Minor League Deal — The Angels have signed Jorge Cantu to a minor league contract, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that the two sides were close to an agreement.
Discussion:
Purple Row, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
James Schmehl / MLive.com:
Tigers' Rick Porcello opts out of contract, becomes eligible for arbitration — DETROIT — Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello is in line to receive quite a hefty holiday bonus in the upcoming weeks. — Porcello, as expected, exceeded the service time needed to qualify for Super Two status this year …
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, Bless You Boys, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Adam Harrington / CBS Chicago:
Sources: Cubs' Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault — CHICAGO (CBS) — WBBM Newsradio has learned that Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night of drinking last fall. — As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports exclusively …
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, MLB.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Baseball Nation, The Cub Reporter (TCR), The Big Lead and Deadspin
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Report: Starlin Castro accused of sexual assault
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Baseball Nation
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Cespedes still on Marlins' radar — MIAMI — Sometime in the next 10 days, Cuban sensation Yeonis Cespedes is expected to become a free agent. When that day comes, the Marlins will be in the mix for the 26-year-old outfielder. — An industry source said Jan. 15 is a tentative day that Cespedes …
Discussion:
MLive.com, Federal Baseball, Beck's Blog, MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and Mike Berardino
