Orioles' pieces starting to fall in place

It was in the middle of the afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving, and yet Orioles president Andy MacPhail was at his desk, answering his phone. That...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 26, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 1: Pitcher Billy Wagner #13 of the Boston Red Sox throws in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays September 1...

Free-agency side dishes (before the turkey)

...Sullivan doesn't think the timing is right for the Padres to move him. Heard this: Billy Wagner could help to overcome his Type A status by reducing his asking price so much that...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 25, 2009

Where the Red Sox go from here

Reading the tea leaves on the Sox as free agency gets in full swing.

Cash grab

During this winter's free agency and arbritration, good things won't come to those who wait.

Story | Conversation | November 20, 2009

Closing the market

...who have either closer experience or closer stuff. Mike Gonzalez (No. 17), Rafael Soriano (No. 20), Billy Wagner (No. 24), Ryota Igarashi (No. 26), Rafael Betancourt (No. 34), Jose Valverde (No. 37), Fernando Rodney...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 19, 2009

The free agent do-call list

The free-agent signing period begins four days from now, and we know that Matt Holliday, John Lackey and Jason Bay are going to be paid the most money...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 16, 2009

New-Bourn: Astros center fielder on the rise

It was as if Michael Bourn had been staring at the same math equation for months, knowing that the answer was right there in front of him. His batting...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 14, 2009

Wagner doesn't rule out accepting arbitration

When they acquired Billy Wagner late this past season, the Red Sox agreed not to pick up the relief pitcher's...

The (harsh) lessons of the GM meetings

Executives and agents packed their bags and boarded planes in Chicago, thinking about what they had seen and heard over the previous 48 hours, such as...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 12, 2009

The Spawn of 'Moneyball'

An American League executive, considered to be one of the best and brightest, chatted in the spring of 2008 about the résumés of the front-o...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 11, 2009

...4-3. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) 2- 11 October 2009: Boston Red Sox pitcher Billy Wagner during game three of the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angeles at Fenway Park in Boston...

...Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE 2- 11 October 2009: Boston Red Sox pitcher Billy Wagner during game three of the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angeles at Fenway Park in Boston...

Type A positive (and negative)

...pick compensation, a team must offer arbitration to a free agent. There was bad news for: Billy Wagner. He is a Type A free agent officially, and presumably the Red Sox will offer him...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 10, 2009

Bay, Holliday file for free agency

Bay, Holliday among first to file for free agency