Top News:
Fox Sports:
Berkman close to signing with Texas — The Texas Rangers — closing in on a new designated hitter — are finalizing an agreement with free agent Lance Berkman, according to major-league sources. — The contract is expected to be for one year in the $10 million to $11 million range …
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Viva El Birdos, Lone Star Ball and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Fox Sports:
Sources: Upton trade talks still on — Justin Upton for Chase Headley? — The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres have held on-and-off discussions about a trade involving those players since July, but the talks have failed to progress, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Sporting News Feed RSS and MLB.com
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Rangers To Sign Lance Berkman — 5:52pm: Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas clarifies (on Twitter) that the option vests at 550 plate appearances, not at-bats. — 3:32pm: The veteran will need to hit 525-550 at-bats for his 2014 option to vest, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and Rays Index
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mo says knee ‘95 percent’ on way toward full health — Baseball's all-time saves leader conducts pitching clinic for Connecticut kids — Mariano Rivera addresses kids at a pitching clinic in Danbury, Conn., on Saturday. (Bryan Hoch/MLB.com) — DANBURY, Conn. — To most of his audience …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Mariano Rivera to start throwing — DANBURY, Conn. — Still not fully recovered from his season-ending knee injury, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said he will alter his winter throwing program to compensate for all the time he missed in 2012. — “It is not 100 percent,” Rivera said Saturday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tom Pelissero / 1500 ESPN SportsWire:
SportsWire Vikings Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder dealing with elbow bursitis — GREEN BAY, Wis. — The injury to Christian Ponder's throwing elbow is more than a bruise. — The Minnesota Vikings' quarterback once again is dealing with elbow bursitis — a buildup of fluid that may need …
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog, NESN.com, ProFootballTalk and Sporting News Feed RSS
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies show some interest in pitchers Brandon Webb, Jeff Karstens — While remaining open to a trade to add pitching, the Rockies have expressed mild interest in low-risk free agents Brandon Webb and Jeff Karstens. — Bill Geivett, the Rockies' director of major-league operations …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Purple Row and MLB Rumors
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Showalter extension may add three years to his Orioles deal — Manager Buck Showalter's contract extension, which may be announced next week, is expected to be for three years, which would keep him in Baltimore through the 2016 season, people familiar with the talks suggested.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Sporting News Feed RSS, SI Tracking Blog, MLB Rumors and School of Roch
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Infusion of $160 Million Gives Mets a Chance to Spend, Perhaps on Talent — The Mets' owners, who were financially hobbled by Bernard L. Madoff's immense fraud scheme, now have about $160 million in new money to spend. — The cash infusion, as refreshing to the co-owners Fred Wilpon …
Discussion:
Metsblog, HardballTalk, The LoHud Mets Blog and Amazin' Avenue
Juliet Macur / New York Times:
In Reversal, Armstrong Is Said to Weigh Admitting Drug Use — Lance Armstrong, who this fall was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping and barred for life from competing in all Olympic sports, has told associates and antidoping officials that he is considering publicly admitting …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Deadspin, Sporting News Feed RSS and SI Tracking Blog, more at WeSmirch »
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Free agent Joe Saunders says he'd ‘love to come back to Baltimore’ — Lefty wants to pitch for a contender, seeks multi-year deal — Joe Saunders' offseason has been spent golfing, working out, entertaining at his Arizona home and being a father to his 2-year-old and 4-year-old girls.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and HardballTalk
