Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Market for veteran closer Gagne is heating up — ORLANDO, Fla. - Quick hits from the winter meetings: — The market for free-agent right-hander Eric Gagne is intensifying, according to a source with knowledge of the reliever's situation. — Some teams want Gagne to ease back into the closer's role …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Maddux agrees to 1-year, $10M deal with Padres — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Greg Maddux and the San Diego Padres reached agreement Tuesday night on a $10 million, one-year contract. — The deal for the four-time Cy Young Award winner contains a $6 million player option for 2008.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Boras is gatekeeper, again — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Scott Boras ended Monday at baseball's winter meetings well into Tuesday morning, taking a telephone call from "a client on the West Coast" three hours after midnight, returning various phone calls after that, sounding surprisingly energetic, all things considered.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
The latest from the winter meetings … The winter meetings are under way 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 — • San Diego was making progress with Greg Maddux …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Lone Star Ball, The Cub Reporter, MLB Trade Rumors, MetsBlog.com and Purple Row
Associated Press:
Mets executives talk Zito with Boras at meetings — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The New York Mets made their first pitch to Barry Zito and might need to throw some big bucks on the table to land him. — Mets executives met Monday night with Zito's agent, Scott Boras — known for driving a hard bargain.
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle: A Giant move for Zito? SF may be looking at signing winter's biggest free agent
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox closing in on free-agent SS Lugo — The Red Sox, stalled in their efforts to trade left fielder Manny Ramirez, are closing in on their second major off-season acquisition, nearing agreement with free-agent shortstop Julio Lugo on a four-year, $36 million contract.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Manny trade talks 'all but dead' — Red Sox fail to find match for Hall of Fame slugger — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Red Sox are about to call a halt to the Manny Ramirez trade-a-thon, leaving five teams disappointed to varying degrees (six if you count the Yankees).
Discussion:
Purple Row
Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox get Drew — Former Dodgers outfielder signs for five years, $70M — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — J.D. Drew completed his long-talked-about deal with the Boston Red Sox, agreeing to a five-year, $70 million offer (pending a physical) to be their right fielder, SI.com has learned.
Discussion:
Extra Bases
Associated Press:
Drew, Red Sox reach preliminary agreement — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - The Boston Red Sox brought in outfielder J.D. Drew to protect Manny Ramirez in the lineup. — Now they just have to decide whether to keep Ramirez where he is. — The Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox agree to deal with Drew — Veteran to sign reported five-year, $70 million contract — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Ending weeks of speculation, the Red Sox plucked talented outfielder J.D. Drew off the free-agent market, agreeing to terms with the left-handed hitter on a reported five-year $70-million contract.
Drew Silverman PA SportsTicker / Yahoo! Sports: Red Sox sign OF Drew to five-year, $70 million contract
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Put up or shut up time — Sox warn teams to give Ramirez offers quickly
Sports Illustrated:
Yankees close to Pettitte deal — Veteran lefty may delay retirement; news and notes — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Yankees' search for a starting pitcher that will keep them from having to bank on a healthy Carl Pavano and Randy Johnson is narrowing. As Vicente Padilla came off …
Discussion:
Off the Facade, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Pinstripe Alley, Bronx Banter and The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Winter Meetings Whispers: Day 2 — Astros southpaw Pettitte considering another season — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A possible decision by free-agent left-hander Andy Pettitte, the latest Manny Ramirez theories and various trade scenarios were the most persistent whispers of Day 2 of the Winter Meetings.
Scot Gregor / Daily Herald:
AL Buzz: Rowand return to White Sox still possible — ORLANDO, Fla. - When asked about the chances of reacquiring center fielder Aaron Rowand in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams hardly sounded optimistic.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Report: Lester's latest CT scan clean — Jon Lester reportedly received good news recently in his ongoing battle with lymphoma. — A source who has direct knowledge of Lester's medical condition told The Boston Globe that the Red Sox left-hander's latest CT scan was clean and his lymphoma seems to be in remission.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets in talks to land reliever Burgos — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Mets, seeking to bolster their bullpen with a young power arm, are discussing a trade in which they would land right-hander Ambiorix Burgos from the Royals for a pitching prospect, FOXSports.com has learned.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Royals, Cardinals battle for Batista
Discussion:
Go Crazy, Folks!, Cardinals Diaspora, MLB Trade Rumors, Hot Foot, Viva El Birdos and Inside The Winter Meetings
ESPN:
Cards plan to stretch out several relievers in spring — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Tony La Russa was expected to give Adam Wainwright a look for his 2007 rotation. Braden Looper might be coming along for the ride. — La Russa disclosed Tuesday that his World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ace is in place? Carpenter gets a three-year extension. — The market is strong for free agent hurlers Jason Schmidt | Giants 2006: 11-9, 3.59 ERA, 180 Ks Miguel Batista | LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In search of a No. 2 starter, the Cardinals took care of their No. 1 Monday when they announced …
Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
Departing Reds staffer takes shots at Krivsky — Longtime scout Barton says Cincy GM wasn't listening to his advice. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When Wayne Krivsky became general manager of the Cincinnati Reds in February, one of the main reasons was the support he received from two members …
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers' Mench drawing some surprising interest on trade market — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - Milwaukee Brewers fans who watched outfielder Kevin Mench play over the final two months of the 2006 season might be astonished that teams actually want to trade for him.
