Florida Marlins Wiretap

Boston To Now Turn Focus To Gonzalez

With the Coco Crisp trade complete, the Red Sox are expected to turn their attention to filling a hole at shortstop with free agent Alex Gonzalez. Had the trade fallen apart, the Red Sox might have reconsidered signing Gonzalez and searched out a trade for a shortstop, possibly involving bargaining chips leftover from a Crisp deal.

Via Boston Herald

Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins

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Cuba Free To Play In WBC

Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic, after all.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a license Friday allowing the Cubans to participate in the 16-team tournament.

Major League Baseball's first application was denied in mid-December by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, but the commissioner's office and the players' association reapplied after Cuba said it would donate any profits it receives to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

U.S. laws aimed at punishing Fidel Castro's communist government prohibit certain commercial transactions with Cuba, generally attempting to deny money.

"Working closely with World Baseball Inc. and the State Department, we were able to reach a licensable agreement that upholds both the legal scope and the spirit of the sanctions," Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said.

"This agreement ensures that no funding will make its way into the hands of the Castro regime. The Treasury is pleased to now be able to issue this license and looks forward to seeing all of the teams showcase their talents on the international stage."

Via ESPN

Florida Marlins

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Willis Gets Record Breaking Contract

Dontrelle Willis reached agreement Monday with the Florida Marlins on a one-year, guaranteed $4.35 million contract, easily breaking the record for a starting pitcher in his first year of salary arbitration.

Willis' deal includes an additional $200,000 in incentive bonuses that could bring the overall package to $4.55 million.

Willis, 24, went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA last year and finished second to St. Louis' Chris Carpenter in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award. His deal surpasses the previous high of $3.825 million by Toronto's Roy Halladay in 2003.

"I'm kind of dumbfounded," Willis told ESPN.com. "I graduated from high school in 2000 and I'm a millionaire right now. I never even dreamed of being in this situation."

Via ESPN

Florida Marlins

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