Top News:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' top-heavy payroll presents problems — You want to know why the Braves must trade Marcus Giles and/or Adam LaRoche in order to improve their pitching staff and stay within budget? I'll tell you. Rather, I'll show you. — Because seven guys are eating up 80 percent or slightly more of the $80 million payroll.
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Bucs' trade with Braves falls through — Deal would have sent Gonzalez to Atlanta for LaRoche — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Oh, how quickly things can change at the Winter Meetings. — For most of the afternoon Wednesday, it appeared as though the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves trade Ramirez for solid set-up man — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves got the elite setup man they wanted Wednesday when they agreed to trade injury-plagued starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for reliever Rafael Soriano, who has a 2.89 career ERA and 177 strikeouts in 171 innings.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Braves pull trade offer from Pirates — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Pirates' proposed trade with Atlanta — closer Mike Gonzalez to the Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche — was quashed tonight. — Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz pulled …
Bill Shanks / braves.scout.com:First on The Braves Show: Ramirez for Soriano
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Angels have little chance to get Ramirez or LaRoche
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cubs ink Lilly to four-year deal — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Cubs continued their off-season spending spree Wednesday, reaching preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly on a four-year, $40 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — Lilly, who turns 31 on Jan. 4, becomes the Cubs' first major pitching acquisition.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Lilly's agent set to meet with Yankees … LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Ted Lilly still isn't sure where he'll be pitching in 2007. But it won't be in Toronto. — Lilly crossed the Blue Jays off his list Wednesday and has narrowed his possible destinations to the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs land lefty Lilly, edge out Yankees — Free agent agrees to four-year, $40 million contract — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jim Hendry and agent Larry O'Brien finalized a deal for free agent Ted Lilly on Wednesday night while the Cubs general manager was in the hospital undergoing an EKG.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers reach agreement with Schmidt — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Dodgers have landed the biggest free-agent pitching prize to date, reaching a preliminary agreement on a three-year, $47 million contract with right-hander Jason Schmidt, FOXSports.com has learned.
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Greg Maddux / ESPN:
Dodgers replace Maddux with ace Schmidt — The Dodgers, who lost three players to free agency on Tuesday, reloaded in a big way Wednesday. — Free-agent pitcher Jason Schmidt and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a three-year contract worth $47 million. — The team has been in the market …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Schmidt's signing could impact Zito, Suppan — The Dodgers' signing of right-hander Jason Schmidt to a three-year, $47 million contract could have a significant impact on the markets for two remaining free-agent starters, left-hander Barry Zito and right-hander Jeff Suppan.
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
I Love the Smell of Rumor in the Morning — It's a terrible, terrible thing when you realize at dinner that your new phone isn't sending the e-mails you've written. As a result, I apologize for no new information during the day, but honestly, you didn't miss much.
Associated Press:
Piazza close to deal with A's, who add Embree — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Oakland Athletics and left-handed reliever Alan Embree agreed to terms on a two-year contract Wednesday, and the club also was closing in on a deal with Mike Piazza to be designated hitter.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
A's appear on verge of signing Piazza — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Rangers are out of the bidding for Mike Piazza, the strongest indication yet that the A's are on the verge of signing the free-agent catcher, FOXSports.com has learned. — Piazza, 38, would be the A's full-time designated hitter …
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:A's get Embree, very close on Piazza
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Sports Illustrated:
Mets to meet with A's, seek Harden — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Mets are expected to meet with Oakland today about acquiring right-hander Rich Harden or possibly another of the A's top starting pitchers, SI.com has learned. — A's GM Billy Beane is due to arrive here Wednesday night.
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Rogers the latest pitching prospect to be plagued by injury — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - The injury bug has hit yet another pitching prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system. — Right-hander Mark Rogers, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2004 …
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
D-Mat's deadline nine days away — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The pursuit of Daisuke Matsuzaka still has a ways to go, with the Red Sox [team stats] and agent Scott Boras facing a Dec. 14 deadline to work out a contract for the Japanese right-hander. — With nine days left to deal …
