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.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
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 …
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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.
RELATED:
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
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 …
Discussion:
Mondesi's House, A New Pirates Generation, Honest Wagner, The Parrot and MLB Trade Rumors
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
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.
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 …
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.
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
McCarthy could start '07 in AAA — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If White Sox general manager Ken Williams does not trade a starting pitcher from his current rotation, he was adamant on Monday that pitcher Brandon McCarthy would start the season back in Class AAA Charlotte and not in the bullpen for a second straight year.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
