Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Appear Closer to Signing Pettitte — The Yankees' solution for their immediate future may come from their recent past. Andy Pettitte is committed to pitching again, and Roger Clemens could eventually join him for a reunion with the Yankees. — Pettitte could still return …
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George King / New York Post:
PITCH 'EM UP — QUIET CASHMAN ZOOMS — IN ON PETTITTE, ZITO — Andy Pettitte is in play big-time with the Yankees and Barry Zito was on the table last night when Brian Cashman and Scott Boras spent four hours together outside of the Dolphin Hotel. — "Cash is trying to improve …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Jennings faces domino effect — Orlando, Fla. - Philadelphia Phillies general manager Pat Gillick sat speechless in the front row of a news conference. It appeared the perfect reaction to the first major trade of the winter meetings involving a starting pitcher.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Winter meetings: Braves pull plug on trade with Pirates — Teams exchange barbs after Gonzalez-LaRoche deal fizzles — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Pirates came close to a trade with the Atlanta Braves, one that would have shipped …
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Jim Salisbury / Philadelphia Inquirer:
Gillick working on deal for starting pitcher — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Despite listing his priorities as a hitter and a reliever, Phillies general manager Pat Gillick continued to move toward acquiring a starting pitcher at the winter meetings yesterday. — "I'm probably more optimistic …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals stay after Schmidt — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Despite numerous reports free agent righthander Jason Schmidt had agreed to accept a three-year, $47 million offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cardinals believed Wednesday night that they remained a player for their No. 1 pitching target …
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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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com, Fox Sports, Dodger Hill, True Blue LA and Go Crazy, Folks!
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers add two big names — Schmidt agrees to a three-year, $47-million deal and Gonzalez agrees to one-year deal as Colletti adds depth, enhancing attempt to trade for a slugger. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — In the most impressive recovery of the winter meetings, the Dodgers bounced …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Rumors continue to surround Nationals — Church's name comes up in potential deal with Phillies — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Nationals didn't get any deals done on Wednesday, but there were strong rumors circulating about the team at Disney World's Dolphin Hotel.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Are Unmoved by Early Trade Offers for Cordero — In the teeming lobby of the Dolphin hotel at Disney World, the discussion among club executives, agents and innocent bystanders during baseball's winter meetings centers largely on the concept of "value" in an ever-escalating market.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Banks of the Anacostia, William F. Yurasko, MLB Trade Rumors and Ben Maller's Sports …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's widen search for left fielder … LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. // With the Orioles growing increasingly pessimistic about their chances of signing free-agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez, they have turned to other options, including the Detroit Tigers' Marcus Thames and free agent Jay Payton.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs sign Lilly to four-year deal — ORLANDO — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has negotiated some big deals before, but he topped himself Wednesday during baseball's winter meetings when Ted Lilly signed a four-year, $40 million deal while Hendry was in a hospital bed.
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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.
Baseball America:
Rule 5 Preview: Devil Rays Looking To Sell First Pick — LLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.—As the hours wound down before the Rule 5 draft, several clubs that had early picks were considering selling them or passing altogether. — That didn't mean teams didn't have interest in the top of the draft, however.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft Blog — The 2006 Rule 5 draft is here, and Chris Kline and John Manuel are blogging live from the Northern Hemisphere ballroom at Disney's Swan & Dolphin resort. — 8:40 a.m.: Early word in the Northern Hemisphere has the Athletics—after paying $100,000 to the Devil Rays …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets zero in on Zito — Ready to make a major pitch — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Despite all the speculation about wild offers from the Texas Rangers and now the San Francisco Giants, baseball officials are convinced the Mets are prepared to do what it takes to land free-agent Barry Zito.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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David Lennon / Newsday:Mets no closer on Zito, but A's arms could be targeted
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Will Bonds leave Giants? It's a mystery … LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The mystery guest of the winter meetings headed off to meet his mystery suitor Wednesday. And for winter-meetings melodrama, you can't beat a cameo appearance by Barry Bonds himself. — But even though Bonds' agent …
RELATED:
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Giants meet with Bonds' agent, also looking at lefty Zito
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Getting dicey with Matsuzaka — Sox not as optimistic about chances to sign Japanese pitcher — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With a week to go before the clock strikes midnight on the Red Sox' quest to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, perhaps it should not surprise anyone that the Sox are feeling …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Helton deal appears unlikely for Angels — Trade with Rockies nearly happened, but L.A. had concerns about first baseman's age, health — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Angels nearly made what General Manager Bill Stoneman called the "big splash," a deal that would have fulfilled owner …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Meche close to signing with Royals — ORLANDO, Fla. - In a winter meetings stunner, free agent RHP Gil Meche is close to signing with Royals, FOXSports.com has learned. — Meche, 28, has chosen the Royals over the Cubs and Blue Jays. — The Royals also have made a 3-year …
