Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Sign Adam LaRoche — 3:23pm: The Nationals announced that the deal is now official. — 12:02pm: The deal is worth $24MM and includes a mutual option, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports. LaRoche obtains $10MM in 2013, $12MM in 2014 and a $2MM buyout for a 2015 mutual option.
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Amanda Comak / Washington Times:
Adam LaRoche, Nationals agree to 2-year deal, source says — The Washington Nationals accomplished one of their primary offseason goals Tuesday morning when first baseman Adam LaRoche agreed to terms on a two-year contract that guarantees him $24 million, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Federal Baseball and FanGraphs Baseball
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Adam LaRoche, Nationals agree to terms (Updated) — The Nationals and Adam LaRoche ended their offseason-long stalemate and agreed to terms on a two-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. (Update, 4:17 p.m.: LaRoche passed his physical, and the Nationals officially announced …
Discussion:
Hit and Run and MLB Rumors
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Nationals re-sign Adam LaRoche, what does that mean for Michael Morse? — Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says the Nationals have agreed to re-sign Adam LaRoche. — Amanda Comak of the Washington Times says the two sides agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with a $12 million mutual option …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
Why Mets won't pursue free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn — So it's Jan. 8, five weeks away from spring training, and Michael Bourn still hasn't signed with a team. Atlanta gave $75 million to B.J. Upton. The Angels shelled out $125 million for Josh Hamilton. No team has doled out a dime for Bourn.
Discussion:
Metsblog, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Alderson expects offseason to pick up pace — NEW YORK — On Monday, the Mets remained the only team in the Majors that had not signed a big league free agent. That will eventually change, general manager Sandy Alderson said in a telephone interview Monday evening, though the Mets are not close on any deals for pitchers.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Derek Jeter should be ready for 2013 Opening Day after having surgery on injured left ankle — Captain should be set to go by time season rolls around, though he has not yet run. Meanwhile, the Mets may have interest in former Yankee Carl Pavano. — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter …
Discussion:
Sporting News Feed RSS
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New York Post:
Mets, Yanks eye 1 year of Hairston
Mets, Yanks eye 1 year of Hairston
Discussion:
Metsblog, New Jersey Online, Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Yankees, Mets vie for Hairston
Yankees, Mets vie for Hairston
Discussion:
Bombers Beat, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres invite 21 non-roster players to camp — SAN DIEGO — The Padres announced on Monday that they have extended Major League Spring Training invitations to 21 players. — The list of non-roster invitees includes 12 pitchers — 11 right-handers, one left-hander — four infielders, one outfielder and four catchers.
Discussion:
I R Fast
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Sifting through more rumors — If it brings any comfort at all, executive vice president Dan Duquette hasn't stopped trying to add a starting pitcher or a hitter for the middle of the lineup. — The effort is there. It's the results that are lacking. — Again, the Orioles aren't choosing to stand pat.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Daily Dish
MLB.com:
Brewers sign lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez — Free Agent Agrees to One-Year Deal — MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez to a one-year contract today. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team designated right-handed pitcher Arcenio Leon for assignment.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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Brian T. Smith / Ultimate Astros:
Role with Astros is Clemens' for taking — Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens is on the verge of taking an active role with the Astros. — Clemens, 50, is scheduled to meet Monday with general manager Jeff Luhnow. The Astros plan to open their 2013 schedule to Clemens …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Sporting News Feed RSS, Deadspin, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
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Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Hall mess means this voter won't vote for tainted players — this time
Hall mess means this voter won't vote for tainted players — this time
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Hall Of Justice — Even Mark McGwire knows he's a longshot for the Hall of Fame, despite his prodigious home run totals. — A quarter of a century after the disgrace of Ben Johnson at the Seoul Olympics, more than a decade after the single season home run record was corrupted six times in four years …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Josh Leventhal / Baseball America:
MLB Pays Up For Rockies Domain Name — Oh Canada! — Major League Baseball has paid a record $1.2 million to secure the domain name Rockies.com from the Canadian tourism portal Tourism Canadian Rockies. The sale was brokered by Venture Capital Group, which announced the sale was the largest for a sports domain transaction.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
A-Rod's doc reveals playoffs were lost cause, chronic pain not from 'roids & hope for healthy July return — The doctor scheduled to perform the upcoming hip surgery on Alex Rodriguez declared the injury had zero to do with steroids, but everything to do with A-Rod's impotent October.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and ESPN
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox ‘hopeful’ of finishing Napoli deal — A Major League source told the Globe tonight that the Red Sox are working toward a contract agreement with first baseman Mike Napoli and are “hopeful” of getting it done. — Napoli agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal on Dec. 3.
Discussion:
NESN.com, MLB.com, Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Hopeful They Can Complete Napoli Deal
Red Sox Hopeful They Can Complete Napoli Deal
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster