Top News:
Peter Abraham / BostonGlobe.com:
Red Sox agree to deal with pitcher David Price — The Red Sox are taking no shortcuts with their rotation this time. According to a source briefed on the negotiations, they agreed on Tuesday on a seven-year, $217 million contract with lefthander David Price.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Chicago, CBS Chicago, CBS Boston, NESN.com and The Big Lead
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Dodgers' tax bill comes due at record $43.7 million — The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay a record $43.7 million luxury tax penalty after finishing the 2015 season with the largest payroll in baseball history at $298.3 million, according to salary information obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Diamondbacks pursue Cueto, clear air about a long-ago All-Star snub — Star free-agent right-hander Johnny Cueto received a $120-million, six-year offer from the Diamondbacks, but it's no surprise Cueto didn't accept the proposal; Cueto has received calls of interest from the Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox, Cubs and others.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish, CBS Boston and MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox, Chris Young Agree To Two-Year Deal
Red Sox, Chris Young Agree To Two-Year Deal
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Boston, Over the Monster, FanGraphs Baseball, NBCSports.com, Pinstripe Alley and CBS Boston
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Avoid Arbitration With Joe Wieland — The Dodgers have agreed on a 2016 salary with righty Joe Wieland, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports on Twitter. Wieland will reportedly receive $590K next year. — MLBTR and Matt Schwartz had projected Wieland at just the league minimum …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and True Blue LA
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Avoid Arbitration With Tim Collins — The Royals have agreed to contract terms with lefty Tim Collins to avoid arbitration, the club announced. Collins will earn $1.475MM for the 2016 season, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports on Twitter. — That's exactly what he made last year …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins Sign Byung-Ho Park — The Twins have officially struck a four-year, $12MM deal with Korean first baseman Byung-ho Park that includes a $6.5MM club option ($500K buyout) for the 2020 campaign. Minnesota will pay Park $2.75MM annually for the deal's first two seasons and then $3MM apiece in 2018 and 2019.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bucs Dugout, Twinkie Town, CBSSports.com, Todays Knuckleball and twinsdaily.com
Bob Dutton / thenewstribune:
Mariners trying to trade Trumbo prior to deadline for contracts — Sources say Mariners are working hard to swing a deal to unload Mark Trumbo — This wouldn't be the first time that GM Jerry Dipoto traded Trumbo — Mariners likely to offer Trumbo a contract if not traded prior to deadline...then continue to seek deal
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, NBCSports.com, Baseball Essential, MLB Daily Dish and Lookout Landing
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cardinals Sign Brayan Pena To Two-Year Deal — 3:37pm: Pena's $5MM guarantee will be spread out evenly, paying him $2.5MM in each season of the contract, MLBTR has learned. — 3:35pm: Pena's contract guarantees him a total of $5MM, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Red Reporter, Yahoo Sports and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals sign Pena to back up Molina
Cardinals sign Pena to back up Molina
Discussion:
Associated Press, FOX2now.com and Cards Diaspora
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Source: Orioles make O'Day ‘competitive’ offer; could make a decision soon … Free-agent reliever Darren O'Day appears to be narrowing down his list of potential landing places for 2016 and Baltimore has re-entered the conversation. — According to an industry source …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Camden Chat and Baseball Essential
Bob Dutton / thenewstribune:
Mariners showing interest in free-agent outfielder Nori Aoki — Free-agent outfielder Nori Aoki appears to be the Mariners' latest off-season target — Aoki finished last season on the disabled list because of post-concussion concerns — Mariners began focusing on Aoki …
Discussion:
Baseball Essential and MLB Trade Rumors
Adam Rubin / Baseball America:
Major League Executive Of The Year: Sandy Alderson — NEW YORK—Upon leaving Major League Baseball to become general manager of the financially-wobbly Mets in October 2010, Sandy Alderson assembled a dream team of front-office executives, including one-time GMs Paul DePodesta and J.P Ricciardi and interim GM John Ricco.
Discussion:
Just Mets and Amazin' Avenue
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Avila 'can't wait' to play for White Sox, face Tigers — When Alex Avila was looking for a suitor in free agency, the veteran catcher, first and foremost, sought an opportunity to play. — With the Detroit Tigers, he wouldn't have gotten that opportunity; James McCann is the starter.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, South Side Sox and Chicago
Chris Young / Toronto Star:
Blue Jays narrowing search for new GM — Interim general manager Tony LaCava and Cleveland Indians executive Ross Atkins are the apparent frontrunners. — Interim general manager Tony LaCava is believed to be one of two front-runners for the Toronto general manager's job.
Discussion:
Tip of the Tower, FanGraphs Baseball, New York Post, Capital Jays and ANDREWSTOETEN.com