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.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
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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.
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.
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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 …
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 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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
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.
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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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
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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 …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Bowden laying groundwork for a deal — GM exploring trade market rather than pursuing free agents — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Although they are not involved in the free-agent spending spree, the Nationals find themselves in trade discussions at the Winter Meetings.
RELATED:
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:Nationals Could Play Small Role in Big Deal
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko
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 …
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Green challenges Burrell — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Dallas Green is out of the penalty box and mixing it up in the corners again. — His target this time isn't Charlie Manuel. It's Pat Burrell. — On Day 1 of the winter meetings, Big D, still a prominent voice in the Phillies' organization 26 years …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
