Good morning!
Here are several go-to links that will make the offseason a bit more bearable:
- The Reds acquired young ace Mat Latos from the Padres for young first baseman Yonder Alonso, starter Endinson Volquez, and two highly rated prospects, catcher Yasmani Grandal and starter Brad Boxberger. Yahoo’s Tim Brown has details of the swap. Beyond the Boxscore’s Bill Petti thinks both teams deserve kudos.
- The Red Sox dealt oft-injured shortstop Jed Lowrie and starter Kyle Weiland to the Astros for promising reliever Mark Melancon. Marc Normadin of Over the Monster and David Coleman of Crawfish Boxes offer analyses.
- John Dewan of Bill James Online: “As in real estate, bunting for a hit is all about location, location, location.”
- Jimmy Rollins will remain in Philadelphia, agreeing to a $33 million, three-year contract, including an easily attainable vesting option for a fourth season). MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams has the lowdown.
- The Twins said farewell to free agent Michael Cuddyer, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Rockies, and hello to Josh Willingham, who inked a three-year, $21 million contract to play in Target Field. The Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has the Cuddyer signing details; Aaron Gleeman of the Minnesota Post discusses the Willingham pick-up.
- The New York Post’s Josh Kosman reports that, according to Howard Megdal’s new e-book, Wilpon’s Folly, “Mets owner Fred Wilpon asked baseball commissioner Bud Selig to ‘play the bad cop’ and help him scuttle a deal that could have resulted in him losing majority control of the team, a new bombshell book reports.”
- The Red Sox were nice enough to wish us all happy holidays. (So . . . Rudolph will replace Drew in right field next season?)
- According to this Sports Illustrated report, the posting fee for the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish was the largest ever.
George Vecsey penned his final New York Times column.
That’s it, folks! Only 68 days until pitchers and catchers report!
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