Top News:
Boston Globe:
Sox are seeking relief — Closer is their focus in any Ramírez deal — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If there was a pattern to be detected in the Manny Ramírez trade talks here, it was this: The Red Sox are focusing on getting a closer in return.
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Boston Globe:
Lester said to be making progress — No confirmation from father, team — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A source with direct knowledge of Jon Lester's medical condition said yesterday that Lester's latest CT scan was clean and his cancer seems to be in remission, so the 22-year-old lefthander expects …
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Put up or shut up time — Sox warn teams to give Ramirez offers quickly — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As good as the Red Sox are getting in their annual exercise in trading Manny Ramirez, this year's so far futile attempt will scale back dramatically after tomorrow.
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.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:On their short list: Pedroia remains an option
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
NY Daily News:
Fish refuse to bite on Dontrelle trade — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Typically quiet first day at baseball's winter meetings, other than another idiotic signing by the Texas Rangers - three years, $34 million for Vicente Padilla. Manny Ramirez still is an apparently reluctant Red Sox …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Speculation heating up at the winter meetings — Quick hits from the winter meetings: — As of late Monday night, the Orioles had made the best offer to Luis Gonzalez, but the Dodgers remained a possibility for the free-agent outfielder, a major-league source told FOXSports.com.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets, Zito talking — Greet Boras to start chase — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mets brass met with agent Scott Boras last night, beginning its pursuit of Barry Zito as speculation swirled that the Rangers were mounting a huge offer. — Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon even arrived …
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New York Post:
BYE, BYE BARRY? — ZITO MAY RAISE HIMSELF OUT OF METS' PRICE RANGE — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Mets took one step forward and one step back yesterday in their pursuit of Barry Zito. — Their top officials met last night at the Winter Meetings with the lefty's agent, Scott Boras …
Baseball America:
Lifetime Achievment Award: Ken Griffey Jr. — As Baseball America has grown over the years, so has our coverage of high school baseball. It has become increasingly common for us to track a player from high school all the way to big league stardom. No player typifies this trend more then Ken Griffey Jr. …
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Jennings pitches abound — Rockies' O'Dowd would consider deal that benefits team — ORLANDO, Fla. - The rumors coming out of the winter meetings have become an item of interest for Rockies right-hander Jason Jennings. — Jennings, after all, is one of the hottest of the hot topics this year.
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Denver Post:
Jennings, Hawpe may be moved — The opening-day starter and right fielder could be packaged in a deal with the Cubs and Pirates. — Orlando, Fla. - Casual interest in Jason Jennings has graduated to concrete proposals with the Rockies considering a three-way trade with the Cubs …
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 — • Free agent right-hander Vicente Padilla …
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Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Blue Jays want to keep Lilly, make late-night offer — ORLANDO, Fla. — The market for free-agent pitcher Ted Lilly officially increased late Monday night when the Toronto Blue Jays presented him with a formal offer. — The offer, terms of which weren't divulged, was something the Blue Jays intended to do with the left-hander.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres, Cruz reach deal — Outfielder adds depth; pitcher Maddux in mix — The Padres, attempting to boost their outfield depth and right-handed power, yesterday agreed to terms with Jose Cruz Jr. for $650,000. — Flush with money resulting from some $30 million in payroll relief …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Carpenter and Cardinals agree to new five-year contract — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty looked at the price of pitching on the free-agent market and decided to throw his money at a guy he already had. — The Cardinals announced a five …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Ace is in place? Carpenter gets a three-year extension.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Waiting for Pettitte and Trying to Be Prudent — In another era, before Brian Cashman gained more authority as a general manager, the Yankees might have led the industry's spending spree on free agents. — "You live and learn," Cashman said. "Every year you try to be better at what you do.
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Los Angeles Times:
Moreno isn't ready to duck his responsibility — The baseball meetings are going on in Florida right now, which I figured was probably news to the Angels, so I put a call in to team owner Arte Moreno. — As you recall, the Angels were a huge disappointment last season and the last we heard …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Winter meetings: Pirates trot after outfielder Nixon — Atlanta's hot-hitting LaRoche a possibility, too — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Pirates, it appears, are hot for Trot. — On the first day of Major League Baseball's winter meetings …
