Top News:
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.
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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.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
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.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:On their short list: Pedroia remains an option
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers come to terms with Padilla — Right-hander agrees to three-year contract, option for fourth — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rangers, on the first full day of the Winter Meetings, have reached an agreement with pitcher Vicente Padilla on a new contract.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners pursuing Zito — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — While the Seattle spotlight on free agent pitching has been almost exclusively on Jason Schmidt, it turns out the Mariners are in the mix for free agent left-handed starter Barry Zito. — Only Zito, who is 28, has a higher profile …
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.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Will's Mill — More From Orlando — The Manny Ramirez sweepstakes are heating up, with the talk now shifting from the Dodgers (whose offer of LaRoche and Broxton fell short) to the Angels, who are reluctant to offer Scot Shields plus one of their top prospects.
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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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. — 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 …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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 …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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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.
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 …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Padres nearing agreement with Maddux — The Padres are closing in on a major off-season coup, nearing an agreement with free-agent right-hander Greg Maddux, FOXSports.com has learned. — The deal, which would be a significant blow to the Dodgers, the Padres' NL West rival …
