Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Rangers setting sights on Zito — Quick hits from the winter meetings: — The Rangers are making a major push for free-agent left-hander Barry Zito, major league sources say, and continue to negotiate with free-agent right-hander Vicente Padilla. — Zito, 28, could end up with a six-year …
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
The latest from the winter meetings … The winter meetings are underway in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Stay tuned for the latest on trades, free-agent signings and the rumors we're hearing at Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort: — All times ET — • There were reports out of Chicago today …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Cleveland targets Borowski as closer — Nearing a deal, free-agent reliever to take physical on Tuesday — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Joe Borowski's failed physical with the Phillies last week might have put him in a position to become the Indians' closer.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Winter Meetings update — Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown, Jeff Passan and Mark Pesavento are in Orlando, Fla., to bring you all the latest news and juciest rumors from Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings. — Giants sign Bengie Molina — ORLANDO, Fla. - Catcher Bengie Molina has signed …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Trading Sexson may be an option for Mariners — Ibanez might play first base if deal's made — ORLANDO — The Mariners are all but locked into Jose Guillen to play right field, and during the winter meetings that start this morning, the club's brass will talk to Luis Gonzalez about playing left field.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner, Boston Herald, Talking Chop, Ben Maller's Sports …, Can't Stop The Bleeding and MetsBlog.com
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners sign outfielder Jose Guillen — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Seattle Mariners will be the third American League West team to employ Jose Guillen. — He'd like this time around to last longer than the first two. — Guillen was introduced to the media Monday afternoon …
Associated Press:
Cards reward Carpenter with $65M extension — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Monday to a five-year contract that guarantees the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner about $65 million. — Carpenter had been signed through 2007 as part of an agreement …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Isringhausen is ahead of schedule — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Less than three months after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery, closer Jason Isringhausen insists the Cardinals should plan on him being available to pitch the ninth inning on opening day. — "I'm tired of other people doing my job," Isringhausen said this weekend.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates cast wide net for lefty bat — Youngster with power is top priority as winter meetings open — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — He is the Pirates' perceived missing piece in the lineup. — He is young, large, left-handed and strong enough …
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers close to keeping Padilla — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The first piece of the Rangers' starting pitching puzzle could fall into place as early as today. — According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, the Rangers were inching close to completing a three-year deal to retain right-hander Vicente Padilla.
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Dallas Star-Telegram:
Agent: Rangers, Padilla close to deal — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Pitcher Vicente Padilla's agent, Paul Kinzer, said Monday afternoon that the right-hander is close to reaching an agreement to return to the Rangers in a multiyear deal. — "That's where he wants to be," Kinzer said, "so we're trying to get it worked out."
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Associated Press:
Giants still interested in slugger Bonds — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The San Francisco Giants are seriously interested in bringing back Barry Bonds, despite the notion the club might prefer to part ways with the aging slugger.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Kalas to stay; Matthews to join crew — Andersen, Wheeler and Scott Franzke will also return — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — For those who grew up listening to the baritone stylings of Harry Kalas, this will come as welcome news. — The Hall of Fame broadcaster will return for at least three more seasons …
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
First Civil Rights Game set for March 31 — Cardinals to play Indians in Memphis as part of celebration — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Major League Baseball will stage its inaugural "Civil Rights Game" this coming March 31, when the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals play …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Chris Girandola / MLB.com:
'Do The Wright Thing' gala a big success — Benefit raises funds and awareness for children's causes — NEW YORK — Snoballs. — Ring Dings. — Yodels. — Twinkies. — The dessert tray inside the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square on Saturday night spoke volumes about David Wright's flair when it comes to special events.
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Avoiding Costly Moves — Rebuilding Nats Expect to Limit Spending for 2007 Roster — Two years ago, the Washington Nationals — shackled with a minuscule budget issued by their owners, Major League Baseball — signed Esteban Loaiza, a beleaguered right-hander, to a one-year, $2.9-million contract.
Mark Michael / story.scout.com:
Scout.com Roundtable: Rule V Draft Preview — The MLB Rule V Draft concludes the Winter Meetings and is, sometimes, the highlight of a team's off-season. While we hope it does not come to that for your team, Scout.com has convened the roundtable to discuss 36 prospects that are eligible …
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Salary boom win-win for Rays … LAKE BUENA VISTA - The Devil Rays aren't planning to spend much money in the free-agent market, but the ridiculous dollars teams have thrown at players could have a significant impact on their plans. — With free agents getting multiyear deals for multimillions …
TwinCities.com:
Don't print that — ) Look for the Twins this week at baseball's winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., to begin official talks on multiyear contracts with the agents for American League most valuable player Justin Morneau, batting champion Joe Mauer and 109-RBI producer Michael Cuddyer.
