Top News:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets trade Milledge to Nats — The Mets have traded Lastings Milledge to the Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church, a baseball official confirmed this afternoon. Milledge was believed to be a major chip in the Mets' pursuit of an elite starting pitcher this offseason, but that apparently was not the case.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Take the 7 Train, MetsBlog.com, Where have you gone …, Nats Triple Play, We've Got Heart, Beyond the Box Score, The Transaction Guy, Lone Star Ball, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Knuckle Curve, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Geek, ShysterBall, The Bronx Block, Babes Love Baseball, Mostly Mets and The Big Lead
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets land Church, Schneider from Nats — Outfielder Milledge departs in deal intended to improve depth — NEW YORK — Convinced that they didn't undermine their chance to trade for a front-of-the-rotation pitcher by dealing Lastings Milledge, the Mets addressed two lesser yet critical needs …
Discussion:
Lone Star Mets, Mets Fever, Global New York Mets Fan Blog, nyfuturestars.com and Hot Foot
ESPN:
Reports: Mets deal Milledge for Nats' Church, Schneider — The New York Mets have dealt outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church, multiple media outlets reported Friday. — The Nationals announced they would hold …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals acquire Milledge from Mets — Washington parts with outfielder Church, catcher Schneider — WASHINGTON — In need of an athletic outfielder, the Nationals have traded catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church to the Mets for outfielder Lastings Milledge, a league official confirmed Friday.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:Nationals acquire Milledge from Mets
Discussion:
Betty's No Good Clothes Shop …
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:Milledge A Nat! — Metsblog says that the Nats have traded Ryan Church …
NY Daily News:
Yankees decide to offer Phil Hughes in package for Johan Santana — After two days of internal discussions among front-office executives, the Yankees swallowed hard Friday and decided to offer Phil Hughes to the Twins as part of the trade package they hope will land them Johan Santana.
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Sports Illustrated:
Twins want Hughes from Yankees — Including young right-hander might land Santana — Yankees people are debating now whether to give in to Minnesota's demands that Phil Hughes be included in trade talks involving Johan Santana. If the Yankees ultimately surrender Hughes …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles, Bedard stall on contract — Talks on extension cool, but aren't over — Contract extension talks between the Orioles and Erik Bedard stalled yesterday, increasing the likelihood that team officials will spend part of next week's winter meetings contemplating trade offers for the ace left-hander.
Discussion:
Oriole Post, MLB Trade Rumors, Mets Fever, WasWatching.com, MetsBlog.com, Baseball Musings, ShysterBall and Camden Chat
Sports Illustrated:
A's willing to deal Haren — Oakland All-Star joins Santana on trade market — Johan Santana has company on the trade market. According to league sources, the A's, within the past couple days, have begun calling teams to seek interest in star pitcher Dan Haren, one of the better right-handers in the American League.
Buster Olney / ESPN:Yankees leaning toward putting Hughes in deal for Santana
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Angels could make run at Santana
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, FanHouse, Boston Globe, South Side Sox, The Transaction Guy, MetsBlog.com, New York Post, Red Sox Monster and Mets Refugees
Jack Curry / New York Times:It's Not About Money in Pettitte Wait
Discussion:
Fox Sports, NJ.com, Pinstripe Alley, The LoHud Yankees Blog, ShysterBall, New York Post and People's Daily Online
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Izturis in at shortstop; Eckstein appears out — The Cardinals have reached agreement with free agent shortstop Cesar Izturis on a one-year contract, industry sources confirmed Friday, suggesting that the club will sever ties with three-year incumbent and 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Fox Sports, Mets Fever, MLB Trade Rumors, Associated Press, MLB Rumors, Home Run Derby and Cardinals Diaspora
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Derrick Goold / Baseball America:
St. Louis Cardinals — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …
Discussion:
The Gas House Gang
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Torrealba signs deal for two years, option — The Rockies don't know what's on second after losing out on Kazuo Matsui and Mark Loretta, but are certain of who their catcher will be. Yorvit Torrealba's boomerang free-agent tour ended Thursday as he returned to the Rockies, signing a two-year …
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Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:Astros set to sign 2B Kaz Matsui
Discussion:
FanHouse, Up in the Rockies, MLB Trade Rumors, Baseball Musings, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Daily Herald
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
King goes back to Nationals — Former Rockies reliever Ray King never wanted to leave Washington, but he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in September. Now, he's going back to the Nationals, signing an $850,000 minor-league deal today, according to the left-hander.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
MLB.com:
Tigers agree to terms on one-year deals with Kenny Rogers and Francisco Cruceta — DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers and right-handed pitcher Francisco Cruceta.
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Dukes involved in incident in Dominican game — Elijah Dukes apparently hasn't calmed down that much. — The troubled outfielder had been enjoying what Rays officials have said was a seemingly quiet and successful return to the field with the Licey team in the Dominican Republic - until Thursday night.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Bill James / Sports Illustrated:
Mr. Clutch — Big Papi, Chipper, Pujols come through when it counts … Back in the early days of sabermetrics, when dinosaurs roamed the American League Western Division, we made a very fundamental mistake. A friend of mine wrote an article asserting, essentially, that clutch hitters don't exist.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: Angels, Marlins hit wall in Cabrera talks … In theory, the Angels and Marlins are as close as ever to a deal for Miguel Cabrera. But in reality, they're both so dug in on their positions, sources say they have no plans to talk again until after they both arrive at the winter meetings Sunday.
