Cubbies Crib: Morning Marquee 12/23

The Rakuten Eagles could make an official announcement about posting Masahiro Tanaka as soon as Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Eagles’ management has until Feb. 1 to post the 25-year-old star pitcher. The Texas Rangers signed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and with his outstanding OPS percentage should be nicknamed “Walker Texas Ranger” down in Arlington.

CSN Chicago: Top 13 of ’13: Cubs fire Sveum, showing cracks in foundation

MiLB.com: Report: Southern League approves Stars’ Biloxi move

Baseball America: Will Rakuten announce a Masahiro Tanaka decision on Christmas?

ESPN Dallas: Next piece of Rangers’ title puzzle

ESPN MLB: How Shin-Soo Choo landed in Texas

SI Strikezone: Rangers upgrade with seven-year, $130 million deal for Shin-Soo Choo

Fox Sports: Rosenthal: Rangers may be lefty-heavy now, but they’re still stacked

Sports on Earth: Rangers are winners in Choo deal

Orioles.com: Balfour deal off, O’s look elsewhere for closer

Yahoo! Sports: Grant Balfour delivers parting message in phone call with Orioles GM Dan Duquette

NBC Sports: Grant Balfour now drawing interest from the Rays

CBS Sports: Report: Dodgers close to one-year contract with Chris Perez

Boston Globe: Mark Mulder has worked out for the Giants, Padres, Angels, Phillies and Diamondbacks

ESPN CFB: Notre Dame to visit Fenway, Alamodome

Astros.com: Castro strives to complete higher education

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