Top News:
NY Daily News:
Robinson Cano's bid to join Seattle Mariners ends on sour note thanks to Jay Z: sources — Rap mogul overplayed his hand by demanding a bigger deal and more money than the Northwest team was willing to pay for the Yankees' second baseman, sources close to the negotiations say.
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Mariners offer Cano nine years, $225 million in Seattle meeting — Robinson Cano traveled to Seattle Thursday, and sources told CBSSports.com that the Mariners offered the superstar second baseman a nine-year, $225 million contract in hopes of forging a deal with the top free agent and setting themselves up for a big winter.
Discussion:
Metsblog, NY Daily News, ESPN, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Mariners To Sign Robinson Cano — The Mariners and Robinson Cano are in agreement on a 10-year, $240MM contract, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com (Spanish link). The contract will tie Albert Pujols for the third-largest deal in Major League history.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Fox Sports:
Rosenthal: Cano to Seattle would make little sense — I can't wait to hear the rationale. — Whenever a free agent makes an inexplicable money grab, we always hear the most bizarre rationales. — For Alex Rodriguez, it was the Rangers' farm system. For Mike Hampton, it was the Denver school system.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and The Big Lead
MLB:
Sources: Cano undecided on Seattle's offer — Free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano, after traveling to Seattle on Thursday to meet with the Mariners on an offer that sources say was expected to approach $250 million, was not prepared Friday to make a decision, sources have told ESPN.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner, Seattle Mariners blog, ESPN and ESPN.com
NY Daily News:
Robinson Cano's father says Yankees 'don't seem to want' to sign All-Star second baseman — Bombers say they want Cano back, but father is unconvinced as Mariners are on verge of offering $225 million deal to get him to Seattle. — Jose Cano (r.) best known for pitching to Robinson …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, GammonsDaily.com, Mariners blog and HardballTalk
Brian Costa / Wall Street Journal:
With Ticket Revenue Down, Yankees Must Keep Spending
With Ticket Revenue Down, Yankees Must Keep Spending
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Tanaka may not be available to MLB suitors — Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka's future was thrown into flux Thursday when the president of the Rakuten Golden Eagles told a newspaper that the team might not make the prized starter available to Major League Baseball teams as a free agent this winter.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Batter's Box Interactive … and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Masahiro Tanaka could remain in Japan, president of his team says
Masahiro Tanaka could remain in Japan, president of his team says
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, CBSSports.com and MLB Rumors
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox sign Belisario to 1-year deal — The Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday with free agent reliever Ronald Belisario. — Belisario, 30, wasn't tendered a contract Monday night by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Belisario attracted preliminary interest …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, South Side Sox, True Blue LA, CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Norichika Aoki — The Royals have acquired outfielder Norichika Aoki from the Brewers in exchange for left-hander Will Smith, the Brewers have announced via press release. The trade was first reported last night by the folks at the Royal Revival blog (on Twitter).
Discussion:
The Strike Zone, Metsblog and Royals Review
RELATED:
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Source: Curtis Granderson looking for four years, $64 million — In their pursuit of Curtis Granderson, the Mets may be forced to answer a $64-million question. — According to an industry source, the free-agent outfielder has been seeking a four-year deal worth roughly $16 million per season.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and MLB Rumors
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers announce non-roster signings: Jose Contreras among them — The Texas Rangers announced today that the club signed three free agents, right-handed pitchers Jose Contreras and Nate Adcock and outfielder Bryan Petersen to 2014 minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to major league spring training.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk