Top News:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Aurilia, Roberts signings close Giants also looking at free agents Weathers, Loretta — Infielder Rich Aurilia is on the verge of returning to San Francisco, and outfielder Dave Roberts, a 2004 postseason hero in Boston, appears ready to join him. — According to major-league sources …
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Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Lee is latest bat to spurn Giants — SOURCE: CONTRACT WOULD HAVE BEEN TEAM RECORD — The Giants swung and missed at another free agent, and this time they took the mightiest of cuts. — According to a well-placed source, they offered Carlos Lee what would have ranked as the largest contract …
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Lee passes on Giants' big offer, goes to Astros — SAN FRANCISCO - The Giants swung and missed at another free agent, and this time they took the mightiest of cuts. — According to a well-placed source, they offered Carlos Lee what would have ranked as the largest contract in franchise history …
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Roberts to pick Giants over Brewers — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — It appears the Milwaukee Brewers have finished as the runner-up in the contest to sign free-agent centerfielder Dave Roberts. — Reports Friday out of San Francisco indicated that Roberts was prepared to sign a three-year contract with the Giants.
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
$100M puts Lee in Astros' orbit as O's concede … Before the Orioles had a chance to write Carlos Lee's name into their lineup, they first had to draw a line. — What were they willing to spend on the free-agent outfielder? How much was too much? — Apparently, six years and $100 million was further than they wanted to go.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Manny and few remain: Lee signing tightens market — Now that the Houston Astros ponied up and paid $100 million yesterday to bring Carlos Lee into the fold for six seasons, Manny Ramirez for at least two more years at approximately $17 million per year is looking better than ever.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Brewers get Estrada from D-Backs in six-player swap — PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired left-hander Doug Davis from Milwaukee on Saturday in a six-player deal that sent catcher Johnny Estrada to the Brewers. — Right-handers Greg Aquino and Claudio Vargas also went to Milwaukee …
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers swing six-player deal — Former All-Star Estrada coming to Milwaukee from Arizona — MILWAUKEE — Looking for an offensive upgrade at catcher and unable to keep pace with the free agent spending frenzy, the Brewers swung a six-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs pull off six-player swap — Arizona nets two pitchers and outfielder from Brewers — PHOENIX — The D-backs acquired pitchers Doug Davis and Dana Eveland along with outfielder Dave Krynzel from the Brewers on Saturday in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada and pitchers Claudio Vargas and Greg Aquino.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily Blog:
Brewers - D-Backs Pull Off Big Swap — The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired C Johnny Estrada, RHP Claudio Vargas and RHP Greg Aquino from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for LHP Doug Davis, LHP Dana Eveland and OF David Krynzel. — Estrada, 30, finished his sixth Major League season in October …
Fox Sports:
To be champs again, Cardinals must improve — The St. Louis Cardinals will forever have cherished memories of their 2006 championship run, and nothing that happens in the future can change that. — However, if they're going to defend said championship in 2007, then they've got a great deal of work to do this winter.
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Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Prices high, prospects low for Mariners — This offseason already has proven nightmarish for major-league teams desperately needing to fill a starting rotation spot via free agency. — So, consider the sleep patterns of a Mariners squad actually trying to plug two gaping rotation holes …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Progress made in talks between Drew and Sox — Length of deal is seen as one possible hurdle — Don't be deceived by the silence. The Red Sox are quietly but aggressively trying to close a deal for outfielder J.D. Drew, who opted out of the last three years and $33 million of his contract …
Jeff Blair / globesports.com:
Blue Jays close to signing Barajas — Rod Barajas is on the verge of becoming the Toronto Blue Jays' everyday catcher. — According to multiple sources, the Blue Jays are close to signing the 31-year-old free agent to a two-year contract worth between $5.5-million and $6-million …
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Garden of errors — White Sox need help in left, center after unproductive '0 — When the Detroit Tigers added Gary Sheffield, giving the defending American League pennant winners a 3-4-5 lineup of Ivan Rodriguez, Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez, White Sox general manager Ken Williams shrugged off this seeming improvement.
