Top News:
Associated Press:
IRS to auction Darryl Strawberry's deferred Mets salary — A minimum bid of $550,000 has been set for the Jan. 20 auction, which will offer a deferred compensation agreement of $1,279,000 that was part of Strawberry's 1985-90 contract with the Mets. — ST. LOUIS (AP) …
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Darren Rovell / ESPN:
IRS to auction deferred Mets contract
IRS to auction deferred Mets contract
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CNNMoney.com, Sporting News Feed RSS, CBSSports.com and New Jersey Online
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves To Sign Jason Grilli — 8:05pm: Bowman now has the breakdown of the contract (Twitter link): Grilli will earn $4.25MM in 2015 and $3.5MM in 2016. The club option is valued at $3MM and comes with a $250K buyout. — 7:42pm: MLB.com's Mark Bowman tweets that the contract is worth exactly $8MM.
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Talking Chop, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Hot Stove
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Big gap still exists in Mets' Tulowitzki talks — and Yankees check in on SS — The Mets maintain interest in Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but it's clear there's a major gap to bridge in negotiations between the teams, with differences in ideas of player compensation and financial considerations, as well.
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Shortstop aims to be ready for Opening Day after hip surgery
Shortstop aims to be ready for Opening Day after hip surgery
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U-T San Diego stories, HardballTalk and New Jersey Online
Fox Sports:
CHANGES COMING TO MLBPA AGENT CERTIFICATION … It's soon going to be harder to be an agent certified by the Major League Baseball Player's Association. The process is about to change, and though it's been due for an update for a while, the new rules are not without questions. Will they change anything?
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HardballTalk
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Who belongs in MLB Hall of Fame? Daily News voters discuss intriguing names on 2015 ballot — Hall of Fame voters (Hall of Famer Bill Madden along with John Harper and Anthony McCarron) discuss this year's class, with a focus on those nominees with New York ties.
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HardballTalk
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Claim Scott Barnes, Preston Guilmet — The Blue Jays announced that they have claimed left-hander Scott Barnes off waivers from the Rangers and right-hander Preston Guilmet from the Pirates. SB Nation's Chris Cotillo first tweeted that Guilmet had been claimed by Toronto earlier this afternoon.
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Bucs Dugout
Michael Gehlken / U-T San Diego stories:
Manti Te'o moves forward: ‘Find a new joke’ — Chargers linebacker continues to evolve in 2nd year — Manti Te'o is focused on the present. — The Chargers are encouraged by his future. — That someone still wants to bring up the past, well, all the inside linebacker can do is respond with an incredulous laugh.
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ProFootballTalk, SBNation.com, ESPN and Sporting News Feed RSS
Heath Bell / The Players' Tribune:
Exclusive: Heath Bell to Nationals — Alaska is a long way from the Major Leagues. Alaska is a long way from most things, really. But that's where I was, a 19-year-old kid from Orange County with a dream to play in the pros. I'd be lying to you if I told you my plans were playing out exactly as I'd hoped.
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CBSSports.com, Federal Baseball, SBNation.com, Washington Post, Nats Insider, Nationals Pastime, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins Sign Tim Stauffer — The Twins announced that they have signed right-hander Tim Stauffer to a one-year, $2.2MM contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, Eric Fryer has been outrighted to Triple-A. Additionally, Minnesota announced that Chris Parmelee, who had been designated …
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Twinkie Town
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cardinals Sign Jordan Walden To Two-Year Deal — 7:35pm: Walden receives a $350K signing bonus before earning $2.5MM in 2015 and $3.5MM in 2016, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets. The $5.25MM club option comes with a $250K buyout. — 12:07pm: The Cardinals have announced a two-year deal …
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Viva El Birdos
San Francisco Giants:
WORLD CHAMPIONS TROPHY TOUR — San Francisco Giants Announce Plans for Upcoming San Francisco Giants World Championship Trophy Tour — Presented by Bank of America — Tour begins on January 7th and concludes on Opening Day in San Francisco on April 13th
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San Francisco Giants