Top News:
Associated Press:
Red Sox agree to 4-year, $36M deal with Lugo — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday with shortstop Julio Lugo that would pay him $36 million over the next four years. — Details of the agreement were provided to The Associated Press …
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).
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.
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Center field will be an inside job — Rockies unwilling to test market further to fill void in outfield — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rockies have taken their search for help in center field internal. — "We've seen what has become (of) the center field market and we are not going to play …
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers won't go too high on Zito — GM Daniels spending cautiously; team eyes several options — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rangers are talking to Scott Boras about free-agent pitcher Barry Zito. — One side doesn't want to talk about $100 million. The other side probably wants to talk about that and much more.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:Yankees close to Pettitte deal
Discussion:
Off the Facade, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Bronx Banter, Pinstripe Alley and The Crawfish Boxes
ESPN:
Source: Mets to get Burgos from Royals for Bannister — The New York Mets have agreed to a deal with the Kansas City Royals that will send right-handed starter Brian Bannister to Kansas City for right-handed reliever Ambiorix Burgos, ESPN's Steve Phillips reports.
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
KC close to Burgos trade — Royals are working to send reliever to Mets for starter Bannister and are talking to Orioles about Sanders deal. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. | Frustrated in the free-agent market, the Royals switched Tuesday to the trade front in a determined effort to bolster their rotation.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mets turn attention to Mulder — Waiting to hear from Zito, team officials meet with Cards lefty — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — While the Mets wait to hear more about Barry Zito's interest, the organization has moved forward with another one of pitching coach Rick Peterson's former pupils, left-hander Mark Mulder.
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 …
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Notes: Bucs in no hurry to make moves — Pirates' surplus of young pitching has teams interested — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In a market where productive pitchers with relatively little big-league service seem to be coveted as much as established starting starters and middle-of-the-lineup boppers …
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves poised to wheel and deal — Rumored trade with Baltimore for Roberts, Penn falls through — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When Braves general manager John Schuerholz and assistant Frank Wren made an abrupt exit from a steakhouse on Monday night, one top team official was under …
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.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Acta aiming for winning season in '07 — New Nats skipper believes his team can compete in NL — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Manager Manny Acta has heard the talk about the Nationals having a tough season in 2007 because they lack pitching and defense and will rely heavily on much younger players.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
RELATED:
Baltimore Sun:
Angelos' baseball instincts once again are off base — Sometimes, the Orioles just crack me up. Peter Angelos is believed to have quashed a proposed trade that would have sent Brian Roberts and Hayden Penn to the Atlanta Braves for young slugger Adam LaRoche and infielder Marcus Giles …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Sun-Sentinel:
Closer could be a current starter — Nolasco might be moved to fill stopper opening — · The Marlins won't use any of their starters to acquire Devil Rays center fielder Rocco Baldelli, but one of them could address another need. — Pitching coach Rick Kranitz endorsed the idea …
Discussion:
FishStripes
