Top News:
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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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.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Schmidt says he's joining Dodgers — Ace right-hander nearing three-year deal to pitch in LA — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Dodgers apparently are on the verge of acquiring the power pitcher they've coveted, as free-agent right-hander Jason Schmidt on Wednesday told former Giants teammates …
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.
Boston Herald:
Sox break bank — Agree with Drew, Lugo; Ramirez talks may be dead — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Not long after announcing an agreement in principle with outfielder J.D. Drew [stats], the Red Sox [team stats] continued an aggressive offseason spending spree last night by coming to terms …
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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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USA Today:
Have-nots go bargain-hunting — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — They're watching intently as the free agent market explodes, knowing their chances of signing an impact player have gone from remote to nil, yet hopeful of using the escalating prices to their advantage.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Exciting signs — Red Sox reach terms with Drew and Lugo
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Winter meetings: Pirates chase Atlanta's LaRoche — Team seen as souring on Suppan, other free-agent pitchers — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Pirates are plenty interested in Atlanta Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche …
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Angels have little chance to get Ramirez or LaRoche
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers turn attention to trade market — Free agent landscape steers Melvin toward alternate options — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Unable to compete in the soaring free agent market, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is looking to swing some trades before these Winter Meetings adjourn on Thursday.
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Rowand playing the waiting game — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Outfielder Aaron Rowand is in a tough spot. On one hand, Chicago is where he got his major-league career started before the White Sox traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Thome last winter.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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MLB.com:
Dodgers sign Lieberthal to one-year contract — LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that they have signed two-time All-Star catcher Mike Lieberthal to a one-year contract with a club option for a second year, according to Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti.
Discussion:
Knuckle Curve
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Post-Dispatch's Hummel named to Hall of Fame — The Baseball Writers Association of America this morning announced Post-Dispatch baseball columnist Rick Hummel as winner of the Spink Award, and with it enshrinement into the writers' wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards stay in bidding, view options — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Cardinals added new definition to "creative" Tuesday when general manager Walt Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa introduced Braden Looper as a candidate for next season's rotation. — The suggestion comes as the Cardinals continue …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
As Nats Plan for Future, Acta Embraces Present — Manny Acta is all too aware that even the people who run the Washington Nationals are bracing for the looming storm that could be the 2007 season, one in which the club is brazenly frank about how bad it might be.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Milledge as popular as ever in Florida — Local product's name is a buzzword at Winter Meetings — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Lastings Milledge may be best remembered some 100 miles away in this state as a high school phenom, but his name has been regularly uttered at Disney World during this week's Winter Meetings.
Sports Illustrated:
Five Deals I like — Gary Sheffield, OF-DH, Tigers (via trade) — By the time he's through, Sheffield will have had the most itinerant career for a Hall of Famer since Gaylord Perry. As great a hitter as he is, he simply cannot avoid wearing out his welcome. Look at his career.
George King / New York Post:
SEXSON MIGHT BE 1ST OPTION — While the Yankees met with Shea Hillenbrand's agent yesterday, another option at first base surfaced. And while Richie Sexson is an expensive alternative, it could be one for the Yankees. — The Mariners have let teams know they are looking to move Sexson …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Bonds makes surprise appearance at meetings — ORLANDO, Fla. - Nothing that happens this off-season will be more surprising than the sight of Barry Bonds showing up at the winter meetings, looking for a job. — The only time players of Bonds' stature attend the meetings is when they are introduced …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Jacque: Exit, stage right — Much-maligned Jones may get wish—trade; Cubs leaders for Lilly — ORLANDO — Jacque Jones never could understand why Cubs fans refused to give him the benefit of the doubt after his slow start in April. By September, he had let it be known he wouldn't mind a new address in 2007.
