Top News:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets pitching to keep National League Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey with two-year, $20 million contract extension — As the Daily News has been reporting, Dickey has been asking for a two-year extension for approximately $26 million, totaling $31 million over three years.
Discussion:
Metsblog, ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
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Fox Sports:
Rangers see dramatic identity shift — A rival executive, assessing the Texas Rangers on Monday, said, “They're going to overpay Hamilton or they're going to overpay ‘KT.’” — That's Hamilton as in free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton. And that's “KT” as in Arizona general manager Kevin Towers …
Discussion:
ESPN, Metsblog, MLB.com, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and MLB Rumors
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets eye Ross, cast R.A. as elf — The Mets' offseason work still encompasses more than resolving R.A. Dickey's status. — Though the veteran knuckleballer's future remains high on the agenda, so does evaluating other pieces that potentially could help the Mets in 2013.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Metsblog, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Tampa made yet another big splash — Execs chime in with their thoughts on multiplayer deal involving Rays and Royals … Andrew Friedman, the Tampa Bay Rays' executive vice president of baseball operations, didn't make a single appearance in the Opryland Hotel lobby during the recent winter meetings …
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals acquire Shields from Rays for prospects
Royals acquire Shields from Rays for prospects
Discussion:
DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish, Royals Review, Purple Row, HardballTalk and Minor League Ball
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Royals bet big, get ‘the piece’ in James Shields after blockbuster trade with Rays
Royals bet big, get ‘the piece’ in James Shields after blockbuster trade with Rays
Discussion:
Joe Blogs, FanGraphs Baseball, Over the Monster, Kansas City Star, HardballTalk, Royals Review, Baseball Nation and ESPN
Associated Press:
Royals Acquire Shields, Davis From Rays for Myers
Royals Acquire Shields, Davis From Rays for Myers
Discussion:
The Heater Feed, USA Today, DRaysBay and baseballmusings.com
Fox Sports:
Royals made right move with trade
Royals made right move with trade
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Nation, Over the Monster and Royals Review
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians still looking for the right deal for Asdrubal Cabrera — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Things move fast in the off-season. Just ask the Indians and Phillies. — Before the start of the winter meetings last week in Nashville, the two teams were talking about a trade …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and Phillies Nation
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Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Ruben Amaro: Michael Young has what Phillies need — MICHAEL YOUNG has played more games than any player in the history of the Texas Rangers organization. — He holds several other club records and has called Arlington home ever since he was traded from Toronto as a minor leaguer 12 1/2 years ago.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and HardballTalk
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Dodgers officially introduce Korean lefty Ryu — LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers' newest pitcher, Hyun-jin Ryu, was explaining his desire to improve his English in order to talk to his new teammates when team co-owner Magic Johnson piped in with some advice for Ryu's interpreter.
Discussion:
ESPN.com and True Blue LA
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Steven Marcus / Newsday:
Yankees to drop StubHub, nearing deal with Ticketmaster — The Yankees are opting out of a five-year renewal between MLB and StubHub, an online service for buying and selling tickets, a person familiar with the development said Monday. The Angels and Cubs also will not participate, StubHub said.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Twins To Sign Kevin Correia — The Twins have reached an agreement to sign Kevin Correia, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter). ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first reported that the two sides were nearing a two-year deal, and he adds that Correia will earn $10MM over the life of the contract (Twitter links).
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com, Twinkie Town, HardballTalk, Bucs Dugout, Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish
Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays sign five to minor-league contracts — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed pitchers Claudio Vargas, Richard Thompson and Juan Perez and infielders Eugenio Velez and Luis Jimenez to minor-league contracts with invitations to major-league spring training.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Andruw Jones to sign in Japan — TOKYO — The Rakuten Eagles of Japan's Pacific League say they are set to sign veteran major league outfielder Andruw Jones. — The 35-year-old Jones became a free agent after playing for the New York Yankees the last two seasons, and the Eagles …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and Talking Chop
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Youkilis' uncle says he loves NY; weighing offer — Youk loves New York. — And, according to a New Yorker who knows Kevin Youkilis as well as almost anyone, New York is going to love Youk back. That is, if the two wind up forming a professional alliance.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians reach agreement with power-hitter Mark Reynolds on 1-year $6 million deal — CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians have reached agreement with free-agent slugger Mark Reynolds to a one-year $6 million deal. — Reynolds, 28, hit .221 (101-for-457) with 26 doubles …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, HardballTalk and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Daniel Seco / MLB Rumors:
Indians To Sign Mark Reynolds
Indians To Sign Mark Reynolds
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, SI Tracking Blog and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Reynolds agrees to one-year deal with Indians