May 2011 - Baseball Wiretap

Red Sox Yet To Make Offer To Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon made $12 million this past season.

Rob Bradford/WEEI.com

148 Players File For Free Agency
With the World Series over, close to 150 players have officially filed for free agency this winter.

Adam Rubin/ESPN.com

Indians Likely To Decline Sizemore's Option
The Indians appear to be on the verge of cutting ties with Grady Sizemore.

MLB.com

All-Stars Arrive In Taiwan For Expo Series
A group of Major League All-Stars has arrived in Taiwan for an exhibition series featuring some of the game's best players.

MLB.com

Angels 'Comfortable' With $130-140M Payroll
The Angels are unlikely to add a big-name free agent this winter after owner Arte Moreno discussed his idea of the team's budget for 2012.

Orange County Register

Nathan Shows Interest In Pitching For Mets
Longtime Twins closer Joe Nathan, who will be a free agent this winter, has admitted some interest in pitching for the Mets.

New York Daily News

Game 7 Was Most-Watched Ballgame Since 2004
The finale between the Cardinals and Rangers on Friday night averaged 25.4 million viewers.

Associated Press

Rangers Decide Not To Hold 2011 Rally
Texas held a rally last October following the team's first World Series appearance, which ended in a loss to the Giants.

ESPN.com

Yankees Pick Up Options On Cano, Swisher
The Yankees have picked up the options of Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher.

ESPN.com

Fans Will Honor Cardinals With Sunday Parade
The festivities will conclude with a special ceremony on the field at Busch Stadium.

MLB.com

Mike Gonzalez Wants To Return To Rangers
Rangers reliever Mike Gonzalez, who pitched late in the season despite a significant knee injury, wants to return to the team.

Richard Durrett/ESPN.com

Angels Introduce DiPoto; Contract Guaranteed For Three Years
The Angels announced Saturday they have hired Jerry DiPoto as their 11th general manager.

Mark Saxon/ESPN.com

Freed Prisoner Told Mets Won It All
After being freed following a five-month stint in an Egyptian jail during the country's uprising, Queens native Ilan Grapel was told that the Mets won the World Series.

Adam Rubin/ESPN.com

Dempster Picks Up 2012 Option For $14M
Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster has picked up his $14 million player option to return to the team in 2012.

ESPN.com

Pujols Enjoying World Series Win, Not Worried About Free Agency Yet
Albert Pujols wasn't interested in questions about his pending free agency on Friday night.

Associated Press

La Russa: Cardinals Will 'Try Like Heck' To Re-Sign Pujols
Tony La Russa said that the Cardinals want to keep Albert Pujols and he wants to remain in St. Louis.

Associated Press

Selig Isn't Concerned About $25M Loaned To Mets
Last November, the Mets borrowed $25 million from Major League Baseball.

New York Post

Rockies, Giambi Near Agreement On 2012 Option
There is a mutual option in Jason Giambi's contract worth $1 million for next season.

Denver Post

Sources: Yankees, Sabathia Discussing New Deal
CC Sabathia is opting out of the final four years and $92 million left on his contract.

Andrew Marchand/ESPN.com

Selig May Settle Compensation For Epstein
The Red Sox and Cubs still haven't decided what compensation Boston will receive for allowing Theo Epstein to leave for Chicago.

Associated Press

Hamilton To See Doctor For Undiagnosed Injury
Josh Hamilton self-diagnosed his injury as a possible sports hernia.

Jeff Caplan/ESPN.com

Freese Becomes Sixth Player To Win LCS, WS MVP
David Freese batted .348 against Texas, with seven RBIs, three doubles and one big homer.

Associated Press

MLB Delays Start Of Free Agency
MLB players will now be able to begin filing for free agency at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

ESPN.com

Cardinals Win 11th Series Title
The Cardinals beat the Rangers 6-2 in Game 7 on Friday night with another key hit by Series MVP David Freese.

ESPN.com

La Russa Expected Back In 2012
Barring a late change of heart, Tony La Russa is expected to return as manager of the Cardinals for a 17th season.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Red Sox Viewing Free Agency With 'Some Skepticism'
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino did say that the team would never rule out signing free agents.

ESPN.com

Tigers Exercise Valverde's $9M Option
Jose Valverde became just third player in major league history to save at least 40 games without blowing an opportunity this season.

Associated Press

DiPoto To Be Named Angels GM
Jerry DiPoto has been senior vice president of scouting and player development for Arizona.

ESPN.com

Josh Hamilton: God Called Home Run
Josh Hamilton was promised a home run by God, but nothing was said about the outcome of the game.

ESPN.com

Matt Holliday Out For Game 7
Matt Holliday was injured when he was picked off by Rangers catcher Mike Napoli in the sixth inning of Game 6 Thursday.

ESPN.com