Top News:
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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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
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.
Discussion:
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.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Peter Gammons / MLB.com:
Stanton solely focused on ‘winning philosophy’ — Marlins slugger frustrated after five teammates traded to Toronto — Giancarlo Stanton was home in Westwood, Calif., on Tuesday when he heard the news that five of his teammates were being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Miami Marlins
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Science gives Crew edge in keeping arms healthy — Injury prevention for pitchers is focus of team's unique three-day medical symposium — MILWAUKEE — For nearly a decade, the Brewers quietly have been on the forefront of injury prevention, particularly in the pitching department.
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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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Full Count, Bleacher Report, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com Sports News …
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Sources: Red Sox to talk extension for Pedroia
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Boston Globe, Associated Press, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Baseball America and Athletics Nation
Mark Berman / MyFoxHouston:
Astros owner Jim Crane meets with Lance Berkman who is working as volunteer at Rice — Houston Astros owner Jim Crane told FOX 26 Sports he met last week with free agent first baseman Lance Berkman. — “We had a chat in my office,” Crane said. “He was just seeing where we were at.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
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.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and Beyond the Box Score
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:
Fox Sports, Nationals Journal, Federal Baseball, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
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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 …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, McCovey Chronicles, ESPN, baseballmusings.com and ESPN.com
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