Top News:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Manny and few remain: Lee signing tightens market
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Zaun's agent staying in contact with Cashman — Finding a capable backup catcher is high on the Yankees' agenda this offseason, and the agent for Gregg Zaun said last night that he has been in "consistent" contact with general manager Brian Cashman. — A handful of teams have expressed interest …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Financially, not a big hit — Why Sox can afford to go after Matsuzaka — There have been wide-ranging opinions on the enormous $51.1 million posting fee the Red Sox paid for Daisuke Matsuzaka's negotiating rights, all the way from Blue Jays CEO Paul Godfrey calling it "ridiculous" …
RELATED:
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
`Average' not so bad if stats tell the truth — GMs on lookout for middle-caliber talent, which might be a lot better than you think — For general managers scratching out their 2007 shopping lists, discussing players in terms of "best" this and "outstanding" that is well and good—but too limiting.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Lively market keeps Hot Stove churning — Soriano, Lee signings kick off busy winter of transactions — It has been less than a month since the World Series ended, but already, many of the top free agents have signed 2007 contracts as a Hot Stove season supposedly thin on top talent …
Discussion:
Philliesflow
NY Daily News:
The gobble gang — Time to carve up this year's batch of major-league turkeys — Just when you think you've had enough holiday turkey, here comes a second helping. Our annual Daily News top 10 baseball turkeys, completely basted. — 1. CARL PAVANO — The missing-in-action $40 …
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.
StarTribune.com:
Why Morneau, not Jeter, deserved MVP — ON THE BEAT JOE CHRISTENSEN — I am brainless. I have no clue. I attend about 150 major league games per year but never watch a pitch. I have clubhouse access four hours per day, but I'm too busy twiddling my thumbs to glean any insight from the players and coaches.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
Bucco Blog:
Free Agent Money Spent By Team — Small market team fans I advise you to sit down before you read this post. — The median free agent salary and contract length for the first 28 players signed as of November 24th is: $21,520,357.14 over 2.6 years. The median age of the player is 33.
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 …
