Top News:
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Source: Mike Napoli, Red Sox reach agreement on one-year, $5M deal — The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have agreed to a new deal. (AP) — According to multiple major league sources, the Red Sox and Mike Napoli have reached an agreement on a one-year deal.
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Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox sign Jarrod Saltalamacchia for $4.5 million in 2013 — The Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, thus avoiding salary arbitration. The contract — which represents a significant raise from the $2.5 million he earned a year ago — is non-guaranteed.
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Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com, Over the Monster and MLB Rumors
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Many of world's best set to play for their countries — Triple Crown winner Cabrera heads the talent on World Baseball Classic rosters — All 16 provisional rosters for the upcoming World Baseball Classic were revealed Thursday with a bevy of big-name Major Leaguers committing to the third edition of the international tournament.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
US roster for Classic has stars, desire to win — Braun, Mauer, Dickey, Wright among the big names to play for Torre in tournament — Team USA announced its provisional roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic on Thursday morning and among the group are a National League Cy Young Award winner …
Discussion:
Disciples of Uecker, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Nationals Journal, Boston Globe and Fox Sports
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Profar heads list of top prospects in 2013 Classic — The World Baseball Classic has become a great event to see the stars of Major League Baseball put their team affiliations aside and play for national pride. But it's not just the established veterans who will hit the international stage in March.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Gomez signs for $4.3 million — The Brewers and center fielder Carlos Gomez avoided arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year contract, one day before teams and their arbitration-eligible players were set to formally exchange figures. A baseball source said Gomez would earn $4.3 million.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Brew Crew Ball
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Carlos Gomez — 5:46pm: Gomez will earn $4.3MM in 2013, a baseball source told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. — 5:39pm: The Brewers announced that they have reached agreement with Carlos Gomez on a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. The centerfielder is represented by Scott Boras.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' prospects get advice from Mark Prior — Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior was invited to address some of the team's top prospects Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field during an extended major league acclimation program for the kids. — Jason McLeod, the Cubs senior vice-president …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Associated Press:
Harrison completes contract with Rangers — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have finalized a $55 million, five-year contract with All-Star left-hander Matt Harrison. — The deal announced Thursday includes a 2018 club option that could become guaranteed depending on the number of innings Harrison pitches.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rangers, Matt Harrison Agree To Extension
Rangers, Matt Harrison Agree To Extension
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, MLB Injury News, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and MLB Daily Dish
CSN Bay Area:
Giants in deep discussions with Brandon Lyon — SAN FRANCISCO - The Giants haven't shut the door on bringing back Brian Wilson, but they're in advanced negotiations with another reliever who has closing experience. — The club has had significant conversations with right-hander Brandon Lyon, CSN Bay Area has confirmed.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
The future of replay — Expanded system won't happen in 2013, but MLB is making progress — It was just 95 days ago that Joe Girardi decided he'd had enough, seen enough, been wronged enough. — “Let's have instant replay,” the Yankees manager said pointedly, after a blatantly wrong call …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Matt Wieters says he'd be interested in staying with Orioles long-term — With Showalter and Duquette locked up through 2018, signing the All-Star catcher to an extension may be the next key move — Orioles catcher Matt Wieters calls Baltimore “a place where I enjoy playing” and says he'd be interested in a long-term extension.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, MLB.com and MLB Rumors
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Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Orioles extend Showalter, Duquette through 2018
Orioles extend Showalter, Duquette through 2018
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Camden Chat
Creg Stephenson / Sports from The Mississippi Press:
Tony Sipp agrees to new contract with Arizona Diamondbacks — Moss Point native Tony Sipp has avoided salary arbitration with the Arizona Diamondbacks, agreeing Thursday to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with his new club, he told GulfLive.com. — Sipp, 29, was traded to Arizona …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and AZ Snake Pit
MLB.com:
Pirates Sign Free Agent RHP Jeff Karstens — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the signing of free agent right-handed pitcher Jeff Karstens to a contract for the 2013 season. The announcement was made by Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals trade Michael Morse for A.J. Cole in three-team deal — The Nationals, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, sent slugger Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners in a three-way trade that netted them right-hander A.J. Cole, the pitching prospect who last winter served …
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Morse In Three-Team Deal With Nationals, A's
Mariners Acquire Morse In Three-Team Deal With Nationals, A's
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, The Yankee Analysts, MLB Injury News, MLB Daily Dish and Athletics Nation
ESPN:
Story of Manti Te'o girlfriend a hoax — SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame says a story about Manti Te'o's girlfriend dying, which he said inspired him to play better as he helped the Fighting Irish get to the Discover BCS National Championship game, turned out to be a hoax apparently perpetrated against the linebacker.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, Deadspin, Sporting News Feed RSS, NESN.com, CBSSports.com and Sports on Earth Writers
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