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11:00 AM ET, January 4, 2013

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Berkman, Lohse looking for fits as free agents  —  • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285  —  With spring training in sight, Lance Berkman acknowledges he's mulling options and “still a little bit in limbo” when it comes to next season and his Hamlet dilemma: to play or not to play.
RELATED:
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:
Cliff Corcoran>INSIDE BASEBALL  —  While the majority of this offseason's top free agents have signed, including 24 of the top 30 according to the Reiter 50, the annual list of the offseason's top 50 free agents compiled by SI.com's Ben Reiter, there are still a handful of key players searching for a team for the coming season.
Discussion: Royals Review and Fox Sports
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
The added cost of signing Kyle Lohse  —  • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285  —  TOWER GROVE  • The concept of draft-pick compensation is nothing new for baseball and its free-agent season.  Just last year the St. Louis Cardinals received four picks …
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
March 31: Astros vs. Rangers  —  The Houston Astros' debut in the American League against the Texas Rangers will officially open the 2013 season on ESPN's “Sunday Night Baseball” on March 31.  —  The 8 p.m. ET game, announced by Major League Baseball on Thursday, will be played at Minute Maid Park …
RELATED:
Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Myers a savvy move for Indians
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Opening Night to feature new AL West Texas rivalry
Discussion: Getting Blanked and Lone Star Ball
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Showalter nearing agreement on contract extension  —  Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos and Buck Showalter are meeting again today to discuss the manager's contract extension, and an announcement could be made early next week, according to an industry source.  —  Showalter is flying …
Fox Sports:
Sources: LHP Oliver mulls retirement  —  Left-hander Darren Oliver's decision on whether to continue his career is more complicated than it might appear.  —  Oliver, 42, wants to play, but is not willing to return to the Toronto Blue Jays unless the team increases his salary from $3 million, according to major-league sources.
Fox Sports:
Diamondbacks may still trade Upton  —  Want to know why Justin Upton still might get traded?  —  Consider:  —  • The Arizona Diamondbacks have a surplus of outfielders after signing Cody Ross to a three-year, $26 million free-agent contract.  —  • At least three teams …
Hal Bodley / MLB.com:
Marlins should waste no time dealing Stanton  —  The Miami Marlins should trade Giancarlo Stanton — the sooner, the better.  —  Having said that, objections from the already suffering Marlins fans will undoubtedly be deafening.  —  Obviously, trading a franchise player of Stanton's caliber …
RELATED:
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
THE VOTE BASEBALL WRITERS DON'T NEED  —  One and done.  I placed an X next to Jack Morris on my Hall of Fame ballot, and I was finished voting.  If Morris is elected, I will most likely be finished voting period.  If Morris is not elected this time, I will vote for him next year in his final year of eligibility and then be done.
Discussion: HardballTalk and THE BOOK
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Larry Walker, Barry Bonds not worthy of Hall of Fame vote ... yet
Discussion: Purple Row
MLB.com:
2013 National Baseball Hall of Fame election results to air live on January 9
Discussion: THE BOOK
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Dec. 22-31  —  Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 22-31.  —  Baltimore Orioles  —  Signed: LHP Zach Braddock (released by Brewers in May), LHP Daniel Schlereth (non-tendered by Tigers) …
Discussion: MLB.com and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Orioles Release Top 2011 Latin American Signing Elvis Duran  —  The Orioles have released their top-paid Latin American signing from 2011, 18-year-old righthander Elvis Duran, after only one professional season.  —  Duran, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound righthander from the Dominican Republic …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Deal official, Swisher unveiled by Tribe  —  Club introduces outfielder at Progressive Field; four-year pact worth $56M  —  CLEVELAND — Nick Swisher could not help the bursts of excitement that overcame him.  The outfielder would flash a smile, begin laughing or shake his head …
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Rubin: Mets to re-sign Omar Quintanilla to a Minor League deal  —  According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets will re-sign INF Omar Quintanilla to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training.  —  In 29 games for the Mets in 2012, Quintanilla hit .257 with five doubles, one home run and four RBI in 70 at-bats.
Discussion: ESPN, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Greg Johns / Mariners Musings:
Mike Jacobs signed to Minor League deal
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Villarreal shelved by Tigers for rest of winter  —  Right-hander experiences elbow soreness while pitching for Venezuela  —  DETROIT — One of Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski's favorite tidbits during last month's Winter Meetings was the high regard for Brayan Villarreal.
Discussion: HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Sign Jason Frasor  —  12:07pm: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter) the deal is worth $1.5MM.  —  11:30am: The Rangers have signed free agent right-hander Jason Frasor to a one-year contract, Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest reports (on Twitter).
RELATED:
Gerry Fraley / Texas Rangers Blog:
Rangers bolster bullpen, still courting Lance Berkman
 
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 More News: 
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Blue Jays hiring of former Expos' star Tim Raines a positive step: Griffin
Discussion: Drunk Jays Fans
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds investigating multiyear deals for Latos, Bailey
Discussion: MLB Rumors
The Heater Feed:
Friedman discusses Price deal, and potential for long-term
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
MLB.com:
Padres announce dates for 2013 Fanfest & annual awards dinner
Discussion: Hardball Times and Gaslamp Ball
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark Sheldon / Mark My Word:
Rolen still undecided
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Despite intact bullpen, Duquette open to adding another reliever
Russell A. Carleton / Baseball Prospectus:
A New Solution to the DH Debate
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets to host winter blood drive Thursday
 

 
From WeSmirch:

People:
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Announces Separation from Husband 3 Months After Prison Release

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy accuses him of rape, physical abuse amid Diddy lawsuit drama — but he denies it

People:
How Prince William Is Supporting Kate Middleton amid Cancer Treatment: 'She Doesn't Feel Isolated' (Exclusive)

 
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