Top News:
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.
Discussion:
NJ.com, River Ave. Blues, The Bronx Block, Twins Geek, WasWatching.com, MLB Rumors, FanHouse, SOX & Dawgs, Pinstripe Alley, Hot Foot and U.S.S. Mariner
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Twin suitors — Sox' Santana pitch gets push from Yankees … In a development that could help Johan Santana wind up in pinstripes, there were indications last night from a major league source that if the Yankees were to include Philip Hughes in a deal with the Twins, it would be enough to make the trade happen.
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 …
Joe McDonald / Providence Journal:
Shadow of Himself — Rewind two years, to the offseason of 2005-06. — The Red Sox needed a center fielder after Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees as a free agent. The Red Sox brass decided Coco Crisp would be the perfect replacement. — Crisp was 26 years old …
Buster Olney / ESPN:Yankees leaning toward putting Hughes in deal for Santana
Discussion:
Seattle Times
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets trade Lastings Milledge for Brian Schneider, Ryan Church — Lastings Milledge catches a flyball against the Astros at Shea Stadium. He'll be doing that in a Nationals uniform next season. — The Mets got Brian Schneider, a solid defensive catcher who ranked fourth in the NL in throwing …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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David Lennon / Newsday:Mets trade Milledge to Nats
Discussion:
MLB.com, New York Post, Lone Star Ball, Associated Press, Beyond the Box Score, Ya Gotta Believe, We've Got Heart, Nats Triple Play, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Take the 7 Train, Where have you gone …, The Bronx Block, Mostly Mets, Babes Love Baseball, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Geek, The Big Lead, Knuckle Curve and ShysterBall
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:Milledge A Nat! — Metsblog says that the Nats have traded Ryan Church …
ESPN:Reports: Mets deal Milledge for Nats' Church, Schneider
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report, Catfish Stew, MiracleMets.net, Federal Baseball and We've Got Heart
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.
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C.J. Moore / MLB.com:
Notes: McKenry impressing Rox — Prospect's abilities behind the plate making club take a look — DENVER — Rockies prospect Michael McKenry proved with his numbers this winter in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league that he can hit — five homers and 15 RBIs in 26 games …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins searching for in-game host — Team to hold casting call for 'Marlins Vision' personality — MIAMI — The search is on for a new Marlins in-game stadium entertainment host. — At 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 11, the Marlins will be holding a casting call to find a "Marlins Vision" …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Rogers inks one-year deal with Tigers — Veteran left-hander back for his 20th Major League season — DETROIT — Kenny Rogers' work as an agent is over for now. He's back to being a pitcher, and he's officially back with the Tigers. — It's where many expected him to be all along.
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Boston Globe:
Trade of Santana to Sox is not close — They don't expect deal before meetings — The question posed by Jonathan Papelbon last night to a small group of reporters at an awards dinner thrown by the Lowell Spinners was no different from the one preoccupying Red Sox fans all week.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Colon heading to free agency — Halos opt not to offer former Cy Young winner arbitration — ANAHEIM — The Angels, according to assistant general manager Ken Forsch, are not offering salary arbitration to veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon, releasing the 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner to free agency.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Japan's Kuroda coming to the majors — Dodgers are among the teams interested in the 32-year-old right-hander. — Free-agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda declared his intention to leave his native Japan to play in the major leagues next season. — The 32-year-old right-hander is a target of the Dodgers …
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
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Losing Matsui not the end for Cubs — The Cubs lost out on free-agent Kazuo Matsui on Friday when the Colorado second baseman reportedly agreed to a deal with Houston, but manager Lou Piniella wasn't fazed by the news. — Piniella recruited Matsui in a phone call with Matsui and an interpreter recently …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Twins Get Rays' Young for Garza in 6-Player Deal — The Minnesota Twins traded a starting pitcher, but it was not the elite pitcher they are expected to eventually move. Instead of relocating Johan Santana, the Twins shipped Matt Garza to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Delmon Young as part of a multiplayer deal.
