Top News:
TwinCities.com:
CHARLEY WALTERS: Red Sox take lead in race to obtain Twins pitcher Johan Santana — A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes. — The Twins would receive four players for the Twins' two-time Cy Young Award winner, including center fielder Coco Crisp, 28.
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Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
Breaking Down The Blockbuster — With the baseball world buzzing over Johan Santana trade scenarios and the annual Winter Meetings just days away, the Twins made an unexpected big splash Wednesday by sending Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eduardo Morlan to the Devil Rays for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie.
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
METSÂ' OFFER FALLS SHORT — PROTECTING JOSE COULD MEAN NO JOHAN AT SHEA — Three teams have emerged as frontrunners for Johan Santana, The Post has learned. The Yankees are among that group. The Mets are not. — The Red Sox are almost certainly among the clubs the Twins …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Phil Hughes wouldn't trade Yankee life — For the past three years, Phil Hughes has been widely considered to be the future of the Yankees' organization. — Time and again, Brian Cashman would receive calls from other general managers, each trying to pry away the Yankees' top pitching prospect.
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins pick up Young in six-player deal — Minnesota sends Garza, Bartlett, Morlan to Tampa Bay — MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins and Rays completed a blockbuster six-player deal Wednesday night that sent pitcher Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and Minor League pitcher Eduardo Morlan …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Yankees Top 11 Prospects — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Two-Star Prospects — Just Missing: Frank Cervelli, C; Jeff Marquez, RHP; Ross Ohlendorf, RHP; Brad Suttle, 3B — 1. Joba Chamberlain, RHP — Drafted: 1st round, 2006, University of Nebraska
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Lester honored for courage — Lefthander gets Conigliaro Award — Though Jon Lester acknowledged he isn't too knowledgeable about Tony Conigliaro, that didn't mean he was any less honored to receive the award named for the late Red Sox outfielder. Especially when Lester learned the names …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets scrambling for top-notch starter — LIKE THIS STORY? — Of all the clubs trying to trade for an elite starting pitcher, the Mets appear to be scrambling the most. — The Yankees, Diamondbacks and Dodgers can offer better packages of young players than the Mets for a top starter, major league sources say.
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People's Daily Online:
Yankees can return to greatness, Damon says — The New York Yankees can end their barren World Series run next year and return the franchise to their glory days, according to outfielder Johnny Damon. — The Yankees last won the World Series in 2000, but have not made it to the "Fall Classic" since 2003.
MLB.com:
Yankees sign catcher Jorge Posada to a four-year contract — The New York Yankees announced today they have signed switch-hitting catcher Jorge Posada to a four-year contract. — Posada, 36, batted a career-high and team-high .338 (171-for-506) in 2007 with the Yankees, ranking fourth in the American League in batting average.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Duncan feels unprotected — Until now, Eric Duncan has lived the ultimate boyhood dream of any Yankees fan. — He was a first-round draft pick by his favorite team out of Seton Hall Prep, and a non-roster invitee to big league camp the past two springs - moving easily about a clubhouse full of pinstriped stars.
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Sox sign Linebrink, move on — White Sox general manager Ken Williams would like to tell you he has moved on after losing out on free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter. — But he would be lying. — ''First part, I'll let you know when I get over that,'' Williams said Wednesday when asked …
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers bullpen a priority in Nashville — Zumaya injury creates a sense of urgency for team at meetings — DETROIT — It's not quite a matter of what's next with the Tigers, not while Kenny Rogers remains a free agent. Yet as the Tigers prepare to head to baseball's Winter Meetings …
Discussion:
TigerBlog
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Steve King / philly.com:
Report: Phils have shown interest in Orioles 3B Mora — The Phillies made it clear their offseason mission is to improve their pitching. — They signed closer Brad Lidge, which moved Brett Myers back into the rotation, and reportedly have gained interest in former Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates offer Morris, chase relievers — Cardinals eye Wilson; Japanese closer on radar — The Pirates are trying to subtract and add pitching at the same time. — General manager Neal Huntington has made it known to peers that he is open to trading starter Matt Morris …
Adam Rubin / Surfing The Mets:
Mets add Stokes to 'pen — Stop the presses! The Mets have their bullpen answer. Here's the announcement ... METS ACQUIRE RHP BRIAN STOKES — The New York Mets announced today that they have acquired righthanded relief pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations.
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Michael Fleming / Variety:
HBO to make Bonds movie — Shelton to direct film about embattled slugger — Ron Shelton has been set by HBO Films to direct a pic about San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds that will air on HBO. — Bonds ended a season in which he broke baseball's all-time home run record …
Discussion:
Blogging The Bombers
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Colin Cowherd on Sean Taylor — One of the dominant questions sports opinion types have grappled with this week is this: Was Sean Taylor's death a surprise. Famously, Michael Wilbon and Len Shapiro both said no. This struck me as a needlessly provocative and confrontational way to approach …
