Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...
The Cubs and Red Sox have submitted written proposals – thought to include names of players – to commissioner Bid Selif in hopes of settling their dispute over compensation for Theo Epstein switching allegiance.
“I’d like to get it done as expeditiously as possible,” commissioner Bud Selig said Friday evening at SoxFest.
“The clubs tried to settle it themselves. I have a lot of patience because everything controversial generally winds up on my desk,” he said. “In this case, I did give the clubs more latitude and hoped they could come to some conclusion. But they didn’t and now it’s my case.”
The Red Sox reportedly originally asked for starter Matt Garza as compensation for the Cubs hiring Epstein as their president. Names have gone back and forth, including former Cubs’ first-round pick Josh Vitters.
Chicago Tribune - Selig: No timeframe for solving Cubs-Red Sox compensation
I'm happy that Selig is going to get this resolved as "expeditiously as possible", but can he really not give himself a deadline? Both the Sox and Cubs have provided their proposals for what they think is fair. How long should it honestly take for Selig to sit down and determine who the Sox should receive? Two hours? Three? 15 minutes?
I understand there isn't a precendence for this, but that should almost make this process easier. This decision is Selig's, and Selig's alone. He's not bound by anything.
And maybe once Selig does resolve this matter once and for all, we can stop trying to digest stories like this:
The Sox have signed right-hander John Maine to a minor league contract that does not include an invitation to spring training, according to a major league source.
Maine has not pitched since 2010 thanks to shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old is 41-36 lifetime with a 4.35 ERA over seven seasons with the Orioles and Mets.
Maine signed with the Rockies last season but never made it out of Triple A, going 1-3 with a 7.43 ERA in 11 starts for Colorado Springs.
Herald - Source: Sox sign RHP Maine
OK, maybe I'm being a little harsh here. The Sox have absolutely nothing invested in John Maine. It would be neat if he suddenly became a quality pitcher, but highly unlikely after getting lit up in AAA last year. But the man doesn't even have an invite to Spring Training built into his contract, so you can probably expect this to be the last time you hear about Maine.
Unless he shocks the world.
Rest of the links:
Globe - Red Sox tickets go digital to foil scalping | Selig expects expanded playoffs to start this year | WEEI - It's official: Selig to decide Theo comp | CSNNE - Valentine positive about progress in clubhouse
