March 2013 - Baseball Wiretap

Red Sox Missed Luxury Tax By $225K
The World Series champions had the third-highest payroll in baseball this past season.

Peter Abraham/Boston Globe

Stephen Drew May Still Return To Red Sox
The Red Sox don't need to re-sign Stephen Drew, but if he comes at the right price they could use him for infield depth.

Peter Abraham/Boston Globe

Mariners Expected To Compete For Tanaka
The Mariners would like to pair Masahiro Tanaka with Felix Hernandez atop their rotation.

Roger Rubin/New York Daily News

Orioles Prefer Veteran Starter To Expensive, Long-Term Option
The Orioles are more likely to target a veteran with a stable track record like A.J. Burnett or Bronson Arroyo.

Eduardo A. Encina/Baltimore Sun

Yankees Have Reached Out To Tanaka
The Yankees began their pursuit of Masahiro Tanaka on the first day Major League clubs were allowed to start negotiating.

Marc Craig/Newsday

Red Sox Will Take Nightly Approach To Repeating
It has been more than 10 years since a team repeated as World Series champions, but that won't stop the Red Sox from trying in 2014.

Ian Browne/MLB.com

Former Oriole Paul Blair Dies At 69
Blair was an eight-time Gold Glove winner that helped the Orioles win two World Series.

Associated Press

Choo Passes Physical, Joins Rangers
Shin-Soo Choo has passed his physical and will be introduced by the Rangers on Friday afternoon.

Richard Durrett/ESPN

Teams Expect Tanaka To Have Immediate Impact
Teams will likely have to shell out more than $100 million dollars over as many as seven years to sign Masahiro Tanaka.

Richard Justice/MLB.com

Moscoso To Sign With Japanese Team
The Yokohama Bay Stars have agreed to sign Guillermo Moscoso.

Paul Casella/MLB.com

Drew Stubbs Felt There Was 'Decent Chance' He'd Be Traded
The Rockies acquired Drew Stubbs from the Indians earlier this month, a move the outfielder felt was possible.

Patrick Saunders/Denver Post

Deadline To Sign Tanaka Set For Jan. 24
The bidding to sign Masahiro Tanaka began on Thursday morning.

Associated Press

Could Rangers Make Play For Tanaka?
Masahiro Tanaka will be pitching in the Major Leagues this coming season.

Evan Grant/Dallas Morning News

Samardzija Hopes To Remain With Cubs
Jeff Samardzija has been mentioned in trade rumors and he appears to be in line for a potential contract extension as well.

Patrick Mooney/CSN Chicago

Tanaka To Be Represented By Casey Close
Masahiro Tanaka, who will be posted as a Major League free agent, has chosen to be represented by agent Casey Close.

Zach Links/MLB Trade Rumors

Tommy Hunter Open To Closing For Orioles
The Orioles have a vacancy at closer and Tommy Hunter appears to be the leading in-house candidate for the job.

Roch Kubatko/MASN

Yankees, Matt Daley Agree To Minor League Deal
New York non-tendered the 31-year-old right-hander earlier this month.

Charlie Wilmoth/MLB Trade Rumors

Longtime Indians Broadcaster Mike Hegan Dies
Mike Hegan, a former Major League player who was a longtime broadcaster with the Indians has died at 71.

Associated Press

Masahiro Tanaka To Be Made Available To MLB Teams
The Rakuten Eagles have reversed their earlier rejection, and have decided to release Masahiro Tanaka through the posting system.

ESPN.com

Blue Jays Re-Sign Munenori Kawasaki
Kawasaki reportedly had been weighing at least one offer to play in Japan.

Gregor Chisholm/MLB.com

Phillies, Madson Have Interest In Reunion
The Phillies are interested in a reunion with Ryan Madson and the feeling is mutual, according to sources.

Jim Salisbury/CSN Philly

Twins Maintaining Dialogue With Arroyo
The Twins have added a host of starters this offseason.

Darren Wolfson/1500 ESPN

Royals Medical Staff Named Best In Baseball
Kansas City's medical staff has been named best in baseball by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.

Adam McCalvy/MLB.com

Jamey Wright Reaches Deal With Dodgers
The Dodgers have added Jamey Wright to their bullpen.

Ken Gurnick/MLB.com

Trumbo Hangs Around For Holiday Party With Angels Fans
Mark Trumbo was traded to the Diamondbacks, but asked the Angels if he could still attend the team's scheduled holiday party.

Alden Gonzalez/MLB.com

Source: Mark Reynolds Nearing Contract Agreement
The Yankees have had conversations with Mark Reynolds, but a source has indicated that he is nearing an agreement with another club.

Mark Feinsand/New York Daily News

Cubs Showing Interest In Jesse Crain
The Cubs are one of many teams looking into the reliever's medical records.

Bruce Levine/ESPN

Giants Have Spoken To Grant Balfour
San Francisco's talks with Grant Balfour haven't been categorized as serious.

Henry Schulman/San Francisco Chronicle

Source: Yankees Aren't Looking For Big-Money Closer
The Yankees are comfortable with David Robertson moving from the set-up role to closer as Mariano Rivera's replacement.

Mark Feinsand/New York Daily News

Source: Yankees Looking At Balfour
Over the last two seasons, Grant Balfour has converted 62 of 67 save chances.

Kevin Kernan/New York Post