Top News:
Zach Links / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers To Sign Jordan Zimmermann — 12:12pm: Zimmermann's deal is a straight-up five year contract and includes no options at the end, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com tweets. — 11:20am: Zimmermann's deal is expected to be a five-year pact worth roughly $110MM, according to sources who spoke with Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Free-agent righty a model of durability over past 4 seasons — MLB.com Tigers reporter Jason Beck discusses the Tigers reportedly agreeing to a five-year deal with Jordan Zimmermann — DETROIT — Al Avila's first offseason as Tigers general manager is about to feature baseball's …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Brad Johnson / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers In Talks With Jordan Zimmermann — The Tigers are in talks with free agent starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, tweets Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. Sources tell Morosi and Ken Rosenthal that talks have become serious. The Dodgers and Cubs have also been tied to Zimmermann.
Nick Cafardo / BostonGlobe.com:
Will the Red Sox meet the asking Price for David? — The Red Sox are prohibitive favorites, at least in the eyes of the media and a few baseball executives, to land free agent David Price for two reasons: president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski's relationship with the lefthander …
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Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Tony LaCava, Ross Atkins are finalists for Blue Jays GM job — Indians executive Ross Atkins and Blue Jays interim general manager Tony LaCava are finalists for Toronto's GM job, sources familiar with the situation said. — It isn't known for certain that they are the only two finalists for the job …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / Sportsnet.ca:
With rotation set, Blue Jays must find a way to augment bullpen
With rotation set, Blue Jays must find a way to augment bullpen
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign J.A. Happ
Blue Jays Sign J.A. Happ
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Bluebird Banter, ANDREWSTOETEN.com, Blue Jays Plus, Beyond the Box Score, Bucs Dugout and Al's Ramblings
Kobe Bryant / The Players' Tribune:
Dear Basketball, — I knew one thing was real: — I fell in love with you. — A love so deep I gave you my all — From my mind & body — To my spirit & soul. — As a six-year-old boy — Deeply in love with you — I never saw the end of the tunnel. — I only saw myself
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Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Is Denard Span a fit in right field? — In exactly one week, I'll be boarding a flight to Nashville for the Winter Meetings and complaining loudly every step of the way. — That's a lot of complaining when you factor in the number of steps from the front desk to the elevators and media workroom …
Discussion:
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Chris Davis and the ‘hometown discount’
Chris Davis and the ‘hometown discount’
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Camden Chat, Union-News, MLB Trade Rumors, School of Roch and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Yonhap News Agency:
Nearing deal with Minnesota Twins, S. Korean slugger Park Byung-ho departs for U.S. — Nearing his first big league deal with the Minnesota Twins, South Korean slugger Park Byung-ho departed for the United States on Sunday, saying he's hoping for “a positive result.”
Discussion:
Star Tribune, Twins Now, Twinkie Town and twinsdaily.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Hunt for starter has Diamondbacks chasing Johnny Cueto — Though they've been saying all offseason they wouldn't be able to afford the top tier of free-agent pitchers, that hasn't stopped the Diamondbacks from pursuing one of them. — General Manager Dave Stewart said he met …
Discussion:
Baseball Essential Shop, MLB Trade Rumors, NBCSports.com and AZ Snake Pit
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Mike Hessman, Minors Home Run Leader, Retires — The greatest home run hitter the domestic minor leagues have ever seen has decided that 19 seasons is enough. — First baseman/third baseman Mike Hessman, the U.S. minor league career home run leader with 433 home runs …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, CBSSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Zach Links / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Ben Zobrist — Ben Zobrist is the Mets' “No. 1 target” this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Nationals, Braves, and Giants are also among the leading teams for Zobrist. The Royals, meanwhile, are not expected to offer the same type of money that those other clubs are.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, Amazin' Avenue and Just Mets
Owen Watson / Fox Sports:
Donaldson is crushing it in Canada — For the past two years, there's been a dark horse in the MVP race. Though he never had a shot at winning the award with the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout putting up the types of seasons they did, Josh Donaldson has nonetheless been one of the best players …
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