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Globe and Mail:
Report: Blue Jays sign free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera — The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera. — ESPN's Spanish language website, ESPNDeportes.com, quotes an unnamed source who says Cabrera has agreed to a two-year, $16-million deal.
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Bats
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Blue Jays To Sign Melky Cabrera — The Blue Jays have agreed to sign Melky Cabrera to a two-year, $16MM contract, Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com reports. ACES represents Cabrera, who must pass a physical for the deal to be completed. — Cabrera served a season-ending 50 game suspension under …
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Metsblog, HardballTalk, Bleacher Report and Batter's Box Interactive …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Girardi, Yanks prepping for life in tougher AL East
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Bluebird Banter and The LoHud Yankees Blog
David Lennon / Newsday:
Bud Selig gives Fred Wilpon's ownership group a vote of confidence — ROSEMONT, Ill. — In light of obvious financial problems with the Marlins, and possibly the future of baseball in South Florida, commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday that he has no concerns about the Mets, who still are facing a cash crunch of their own.
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
Brazil Upsets Host Panama In Qualifier Opener — Astros farmhand Murilo Gouvea retired the first 10 batters he faced, and Rays farmhand Leonardo Reginatto scored two of Brazil's runs and drove in a third as Brazil upset Panama 3-2 to open the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament.
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Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Debby Wu / MLB.com:
New Zealand bounces Thailand with qualifier upset — XINZHUANG, Taiwan — Underdog New Zealand's continuous scoring in every inning, including a big four-run second, helped the Kiwis upset Thailand, 12-2, in a game shortened to eight innings by the mercy rule in the World Baseball Classic qualifier on Friday at Xinzhuang Stadium.
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HardballTalk
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Sources: Red Sox to talk extension for Pedroia … BOSTON — While Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is optimistic about the club's unfinished offseason plans for free agency and the trade market, he also has some internal considerations brewing.
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Associated Press, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Rob Bradford / WEEI:
SOURCE: RED SOX NOT PRIORITIZING HAMILTON — According to a baseball source, reports of the Red Sox' interest in free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton have been “overblown.” — While the Red Sox are in the market for a pair of outfielders this offseason, Hamilton — considered …
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Over the Monster and HardballTalk
MLB:
Buster Posey named NL MVP — NEW YORK — San Francisco's Buster Posey has been voted the NL Most Valuable Player after returning from a devastating leg injury and becoming the first catcher in 70 years to win the league's batting title. — Posey received 27 of 32 first-place votes …
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AZ Snake Pit, McCovey Chronicles, ESPN, baseballmusings.com and ESPN.com
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves host free-agent outfielder Upton — ATLANTA — After reaching a two-year agreement with veteran backup catcher Gerald Laird on Thursday morning, Braves general manager Frank Wren spent Thursday afternoon and some of the early evening courting free-agent outfielder B.J. Upton.
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The Heater Feed
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Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
B.J. Upton visits with Braves at Turner Field — After reaching a two-year agreement with veteran backup catcher Gerald Laird on Thursday morning, Braves general manager Frank Wren spent Thursday afternoon and some of the early-evening hours courting free agent outfielder B.J. Upton.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Padres Acquire Ross For Parrino, Werner — The Padres announced that they acquired right-hander Tyson Ross and infielder A.J. Kirby-Jones from the A's for infielder Andy Parrino and left-hander Andrew Werner. None of the four players have enough service time to be arbitration eligible.
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Athletics Nation
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
It's the 2013 Hardball Times Baseball Annual — The Hardball Times Baseball Annual for 2013 is now yours for the purchasing. This is something we do every year, just for the heck of it. In fact, this is our ninth THT Annual, and we're trying a few new things this year.
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Beyond the Box Score and Getting Blanked
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Ricky Nolasco will pitch for Marlins in 2013, says team president — Marlins president David Samson took questions from callers today on The Dan LeBatard Show on 790 AM and unveiled one nugget - Ricky Nolasco will pitch for the Marlins in 2013. — LeBatard at one point asked Samson, “Will Ricky Nolasco be here next year?”
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The LoHud Yankees Blog
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