Top News:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Mariners to bring in Guillen to solidify outfield … Outfielder Jose Guillen and the Seattle Mariners have reached agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, sources told Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com. — The contract also includes the possibility of another $3 million in performance-based bonuses.
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Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
M's close to signing Jose Guillen — Looks like the Mariners have gotten the memo - one year gambles are a good way to go in a market when everyone else is committing away a roster spot for half a decade or more. — Both the Nationals writer for MLB.com and Corey Brock are reporting …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats offer arbitration to Guillen — Washington cuts ties with veterans Armas, Ortiz, Fick — WASHINGTON — The Nationals offered salary arbitration to free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen, but declined to offer arbitration to catcher/first baseman Robert Fick and right-handers Tony Armas Jr. and Ramon Ortiz.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Market makes search tougher for Marlins — Let's go shopping — Key players expected to draw attention at baseball's winter meetings Monday through Thursday in Orlando: — Starters — LHP Barry Zito 16-10 for Oakland — • 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner is coveted by Texas.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Winter Meetings a Big Deal? Sometimes — This is the week everyone in baseball looks forward to. It's more greatly anticipated and more popular than the World Series because everyone gets to participate in the winter meetings. A team doesn't have to win a lot of games or a certain set of games to qualify to attend the meetings.
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Roberts follows Bochy to Giants — Speedster signed to three-year contract; Feliz also nears pact — SAN FRANCISCO — If the Giants were a bit passive-aggressive in the past, now there's a new baseball style afoot. Literally. — Call it the fast and the furious.
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's see L. Gonzalez filling void in left … Continuing their quest to add a run-producing left fielder, the Orioles have set their sights on Arizona Diamondbacks free agent Luis Gonzalez. An industry source confirmed Saturday that the Orioles made Gonzalez, who has 331 career home runs, a one-year contract offer Friday night.
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals may find pitchers too pricey — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Cardinals arrive at Disney World on Sunday afternoon. The first ride they'll find is the free agent pitching loop-de-loop. — Potentially central players in an overheated marketplace, the defending World Series champions hope …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
A zest for Zito — Mets target lefty but seem unwilling to make wild pitch — Tom Glavine's return reduces Omar Minaya's urgency to find a starting pitcher at this week's winter meetings. But make no mistake: The Mets GM, like many of his counterparts throughout baseball …
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Los Angeles Times:
Keeping 'em on the farm? — Dodgers, Angels have plenty of prospects other teams covet in possible trades for a slugger, but general managers may not want to give them up. — Like holiday carolers spreading a message of devotion, Dodgers scouting and player development officials will gather …
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Chicago Sun Times:
Seizing the in-house talent — Ken Williams knows exactly what awaits him at the annual winter meetings this week in Orlando, Fla. Too much bad coffee, further frustration, then leaving the Sunshine State with the same 25-man roster he arrived with. — Frankly, the White Sox' general manager is just fine with that.
Dan Rosenheck / New York Times:
Bonds Is a Big Bargain for the Right Team — In a soaring free-agent market, Barry Bonds's bad-boy reputation may turn him into baseball's unlikeliest bargain. — Even at 42, he is the best player on the market. Nate Silver, an analyst for Baseball Prospectus, said Bonds …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers interested in signing Piazza — Texas looking to add the All-Star backstop as designated hitter — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are showing serious interest in free-agent catcher Mike Piazza, Major League officials confirmed on Saturday. — The Rangers' interest in Piazza …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Report: Reds to file complaint on Nats — Cincinnati believes it received damaged goods in Majewski — WASHINGTON — The Reds are planning to seek the council of the Commissioner's office about the trade that sent reliever Gary Majewski from the Nationals to the Reds this past season, according to The Cincinnati Post.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays will be thrifty shoppers … ST. PETERSBURG - This week's winter meetings at Disney likely won't be a big deal for the Devil Rays unless they make a big deal. — With their minds open, but their checkbook not, the Rays don't plan to dabble much in the ridiculously pricey free-agent market.
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals plan to shop responsibly — GM Moore has money to work with, but market may push players out of Royals' price range. — Even a free-agent market stampeding toward new fiscal heights won't stop the Royals from shopping briskly this week when the baseball industry gathers at Disney World for its annual winter meetings.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lucchino hits on three hot topics — Back from his fact-finding/Matsuzaka-signing mission in Japan, Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino sat down at Fenway Park last night and discussed three pivotal team issues in the winter of 2006-07: — Daisuke Matsuzaka: "Our interest is obviously sincere.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Glavine picks Mets a second time — Ex-Brave says Atlanta never made a formal offer to bring him back to town — Tom Glavine's flirtation with the Braves ended Friday when the veteran left-hander decided to return for a fifth season with the New York Mets.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
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