Top News:
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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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.
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Despite GM in hospital, Cubs pad rotation with Lilly — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Chicago Cubs bagged another free agent, but this time they had to go to extraordinary measures to do it: General manager Jim Hendry completed a four-year, $40 million deal with left-hander Ted Lilly after being taken to the hospital because he felt ill.
Discussion:
CubsNet.com
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:Lilly's agent set to meet with Yankees
Discussion:
GROTA, Lone Star Ball, On the Yankees beat, Baseball Musings, Bucs Dugout and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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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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.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Could Sox have gotten more for Garcia?
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Phillies acquire Garcia from White Sox
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, MLB.com, Baseball Musings, Lone Star Ball, Brew Crew Ball, South Side Sox and MLB Trade Rumors
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:White Sox send Garcia to Phillies for Floyd and a player to be named
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
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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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 …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog, Replacement Level …, Bronx Banter and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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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 …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Omar feels power — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Omar Minaya, who officially obtained 22-year-old reliever Ambiorix Burgos from the Royals yesterday for Brian Bannister, compared the righthander's arrival to Duaner Sanchez's acquisition last winter. The Mets GM also gloated that Burgos …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets no closer on Zito, but A's arms could be targeted — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Mets appear to be walking a fine line between negotiating for Barry Zito and indirectly applying pressure on the free-agent lefthander. For that kind of activity, there's no place better than the winter meetings …
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
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.
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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 …
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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 …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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
