Top News:
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
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.
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.
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
Put up or shut up time — Sox warn teams to give Ramirez offers quickly
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.
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
A Giant move for Zito? SF may be looking at signing winter's biggest free agent — (12-05) 17:25 PST LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Giants, rebuffed in their efforts to sign one of the premier hitters on the market, are looking into acquiring the winter's biggest pitching prize.
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.
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:
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
Royals, Cardinals battle for Batista
Discussion:
Go Crazy, Folks!, Cardinals Diaspora, MLB Trade Rumors, Hot Foot, Viva El Birdos and Inside The Winter Meetings
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 …
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Cardinals Diaspora