Top News:
Fox Sports:
Morse strongly opposes being a DH — There is a problem for any American League team that intends to acquire Nationals left fielder Mike Morse and use him often as a designated hitter. — Morse strongly opposes being a DH, according to major-league sources. — The issue, sources say, will carry weight for some AL clubs.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
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:
Federal Baseball, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, Beyond the Box Score and MLB Daily Dish
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.
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:
MLB Rumors
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Nationals re-sign Adam LaRoche, what does that mean for Michael Morse?
Nationals re-sign Adam LaRoche, what does that mean for Michael Morse?
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, U.S.S. Mariner and Sporting News Feed RSS
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
My (overstuffed) Hall of Fame ballot — After much debate, a 10-man Cooperstown ticket that includes Bonds and Clemens — Somewhere out there, I'm sure there's somebody in our beautiful land who has this 2013 Hall of Fame ballot fiasco all figured out. — Somebody who knows exactly …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Phillies Nation and ESPN
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / The Boston Globe:
A Hall of Fame ballot without a whiff of PED usage — Curt Schilling tipped his cap to the Fenway crowd on Oct. 25, 2007, after leaving Game 2 of the World Series. He is on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. — The poison ballot remained on my desk, unopened until Dec. 31. — I knew what was in there.
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 and Beyond the Box Score
New York Post:
Mets, Yanks eye 1 year of Hairston — Scott Hairston, a pleasant surprise for the Mets last season, has been aiming high in free agency this winter. A lowering of his asking price could keep him in New York while still getting him a healthy raise. — The righty-hitting outfielder, 32 …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue, New Jersey Online and ESPN
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers haven't ruled out adding Bourn, Lohse — GM Daniels is happy with current roster, but could go after pair of free agents — ARLINGTON — New Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman is a former teammate of both free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn and pitcher Kyle Lohse.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
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
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:
Sporting News Feed RSS, River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk and ESPN
Darren Rovell / ESPN:
MLB dugouts to have cellphones — Phone calls between the dugout and bullpen will be made using cellphones this season as part of T-Mobile becoming the official wireless partner of Major League Baseball. — “Everyone wanted to make this deal happen,” said Tim Brosnan, MLB's executive vice president of business.
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:
Mets Merized Online, Metsblog, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online and Metsblog
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Lefty Gonzalez welcomed to Crew bullpen — MILWAUKEE — Remember last year, when the Brewers added left-hander Mike Gonzalez in free agency? — On Monday, they made the signing official. — The Brewers formally announced their one-year pact with the veteran reliever on Monday …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED: