Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Mariners, Felix Hernandez agree to $175 million deal — Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract that should be finalized before spring training, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, a person familiar with the contract details told USA TODAY Sports.
Discussion:
ESPN.com, HardballTalk, MLB.com, Lookout Landing, FanGraphs Baseball, Mariners blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bleacher Report, Seattle Mariners blog, MLB Rumors, U.S.S. Mariner, Bluebird Banter, NESN.com, Bless You Boys, MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, Baseball Nation, True Blue LA, McCovey Chronicles, CBSSports.com, Minor League Ball, baseballmusings.com, SI Tracking Blog, It's About The Money, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw have mutual interest in pact, GM says — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw will be eligible for free agency after the 2014 season. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / September 4, 2012) — Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers share “a mutual interest” …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, SI Tracking Blog and HardballTalk
ESPN.com:
Report: Hernandez, M's agree to $175M deal — Felix Hernandez has agreed to a new seven-year, $175 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, USA Today Sports reported Thursday. — The deal would make Hernandez the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.
Jerry Spar / Full Count:
Curt Schilling: ‘Members of the [Red Sox] organization’ encouraged me to use PEDs — Curt Schilling, in a Wednesday interview on ESPN Radio, said toward the end of his tenure with the Red Sox he was encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs by “members of the organization.”
Discussion:
Deadspin, MLB Daily Dish, Bleacher Report, NESN.com, The Big Lead, HardballTalk, ESPN, Sliding Into Home, Boston Globe and WasWatching.com
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ESPN:
Curt Schilling, MLB — ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling says he will be surprised if Alex Rodriguez plays again. Schilling also shares his thoughts on Ryan Braun and more.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Let's Go Tribe, Bleacher Report, Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster and CBSSports.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Lucchino ‘surprised’ by Schilling's accusations
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Angel Villalona Gets Visa, Will Be In Giants Big League Camp — Angel Villalona has received his work visa and will be in big league camp with the Giants for spring training, a team official confirmed today. He will travel to Arizona next week to join the team.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Shoppach, Mariners finalize $1.5M, 1-year deal — SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with catcher Kelly Shoppach, providing a needed backup to expected starter Jesus Montero. — Seattle announced the deal Thursday.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Fox Sports:
Source: Lyon nears deal with Mets — Free-agent reliever Brandon Lyon is finalizing a one-year contract with the New York Mets, according to a major league source. — The two sides continue to negotiate the guarantee, which will be between $750,000 and $900,000, the source said.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Francisco, Collins say vet still Mets closer — PORT ST. LUCIE — Frank Francisco made his closing argument yesterday. This is an open and shut case. — “I am the closer,” Francisco told The Post at the Mets spring-training complex. — No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, Metsblog and Kranepool Society
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets add final piece to 'pen in veteran righty Lyon
Mets add final piece to 'pen in veteran righty Lyon
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Mariners Agree To Terms With Joe Saunders — The Mariners have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent left-hander Joe Saunders, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). The contract will become official once Saunders passes a physical. Saunders is represented by Greg Genske.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, Bleacher Report, MLB Daily Dish and SI Tracking Blog
Scott Cacciola / New York Times:
Line Up, Shut Up and Maybe Mr. Jeter Will Sign — TAMPA, Fla. — Shortly before noon, and nearly a week before spring training was to begin, a Yankees employee named John Johnson received word on his two-way radio that Derek Jeter had wrapped up his work for the day and would be leaving the team's minor-league complex here.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Lonely days ahead for Mark Buehrle — Pitcher's pit bull outlawed in Toronto, so family won't join him once season begins — A brief scouting report on Slater Buehrle: — He's 2 years old and weighs 65 pounds. His coat is slate blue, his ears are floppy and his eyes are a doleful shade of gray and green.
Discussion:
South Side Sox and HardballTalk
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Don't count on Red Sox getting in hunt for Kyle Lohse — The rumors regarding the Red Sox and Kyle Lohse resurfaced earlier this week thanks in part to a tweet from Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and Sirius/XM Radio ... According to a major league source, however, it is “highly unlikely” …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, NESN.com, MLB Daily Dish, Viva El Birdos and MLB Rumors