Top News:
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:
Bad Altitude, Purple Row, Can't Stop The Bleeding, MLB Trade Rumors, MetsBlog.com and Ben Maller's Sports …
RELATED:
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 …
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 …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
White Sox could trade Garland to Astros — ORLANDO, Fla. - The White Sox might not be done trading starting pitchers. — One day after sending right-hander Freddy Garcia to the Phillies, the White Sox were discussing sending right-hander Jon Garland to the Astros for center fielder Willy Taveras …
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle, The Baseball Files, On the Yankees beat, MLB Trade Rumors and Lone Star Ball
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox deal Garcia to Phillies — Williams sends Garcia to Phils for 2 prospects, but not Rowand — ORLANDO — The White Sox began the revamping of their rotation Wednesday night when they traded 17-game winner Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia for pitcher Gavin Floyd and left-handed prospect Gio Gonzalez.
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 …
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:White Sox send Garcia to Phillies for Floyd and a player to be named
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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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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.
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.
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:Chicago Cubs GM undergoes angioplasty
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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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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.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Nats Are Unmoved by Early Trade Offers for Cordero
Discussion:
MLB.com, William F. Yurasko, MLB Trade Rumors, Banks of the Anacostia and Ben Maller's Sports …
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
St. Louis expresses interest in the slugger — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols, back to back? It's more than a fantasy league lineup — and more than a rumor. — St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa approached Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, on Wednesday night and requested …
RELATED:
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Giants meet with Bonds' agent, also looking at lefty Zito
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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 …
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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 …
RELATED:
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 …
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
RELATED:
David Lennon / Newsday:Mets no closer on Zito, but A's arms could be targeted
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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 …
Discussion:
PittsburghLIVE.com, MLB.com, Bucco Blog, A New Pirates Generation, The Parrot and Honest Wagner
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 …
Tom Haudricourt / Mercury News:
Graffanino to accept Brewers' salary arbitration — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be cornering the market on veteran, reserve infielders. — With Craig Counsell already in the fold with a two-year deal and a one-year offer on the table to Jeff Cirillo …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Manny not changing uniforms — Slugger likely to remain with Red Sox next season — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's unofficial Wednesday midnight deadline for trading superstar slugger Manny Ramirez passed with the enigmatic cleanup man still wearing a Boston uniform.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
ESPN:
Royals, Meche agree to five-year deal — The Gil Meche sweepstakes are over, and the Kansas City Royals are the winners. — ESPN's Steve Phillips reported Thursday that the Royals and Meche have agreed to terms on a 5-year deal, pending a physical. Financial details were not immediately available.
MLB.com:
Dodgers bring in outfielder Gonzalez — Longtime D-back's 52 doubles ranked third in baseball — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Dodgers have come to an agreement with outfielder Luis Gonzalez on a one-year deal worth $7 million for the 2007 season, MLB.com has learned.
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Manager sets sights firmly on playoffs — RANGERS RON WASHINGTON — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - One of the appealing characteristics about new Rangers manager Ron Washington is his bold confidence. — Washington has no qualms about stating that he expects the Rangers to go to the playoffs this season for the first time since 1999.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
