Top News:
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Pettitte to play for Yankees in '08 — Agent confirms veteran's decision to choose Bronx over retirement — NASHVILLE - Andy Pettitte, who contemplated retirement this winter, has told his good friends, a few former Astros teammates and some current Yankees teammates that he will return to the Bronx for the 2008 season.
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ESPN.com:
Pettitte not retiring, will pitch for Yankees in 2008 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Andy Pettitte has decided to put off retirement and pitch for the New York Yankees in 2008. — Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday that the 35-year-old left-hander had started telling teammates on Sunday.
Boston Globe:
Ellsbury not untouchable for Santana — NASHVILLE - Zero hour for a Johan Santana trade may be approaching. — Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner, vowing "not to be played" by the Red Sox, said publicly the Minnesota Twins must make a decision on whether to accept New York's offer by today, or it will be withdrawn.
Sean McAdam / Providence Journal:
Red Sox raising ante for Santana — BOSTON — On the eve of the start of the winter meetings, the intrigue surrounding Minnesota Twins left-hander Johan Santana took one more unexpected turn. — The Red Sox yesterday did an about-face and decided to include outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury in a package for the premier pitcher.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors, Hot Foot, Sports Illustrated, Twins Territory, MLB Trade Rumors and Over the Monster
NY Daily News:
Hank Steinbrenner says Yankee offer for Johan Santana is 'fair' — NASHVILLE - With all the parties descending upon the winter meetings, the Red Sox upped the ante in the Johan Santana sweepstakes Sunday by offering to include previously untouchable rookie center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal for the Twins' premier lefthander.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pettitte to return to Yankees — Less than a week after Jorge Posada and his father both said he was leaning to retirement, Andy Pettitte changed his mind and decided to pitch for the Yankees in 2008. — Details are still coming in, but it is believed Pettitte will pitch for the $16 million that was his original contract option.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Twins could create monster — Can't hand Santana to Red Sox, Yanks — NASHVILLE — Just say no, Minnesota Twins. — There's little doubt the Twins need to trade Johan Santana. And there's not much doubt the 28-year-old left-hander has replaced all the legends, guys like Randy Johnson …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Sources: Twins better act fast on Santana
Discussion:
The Weblog That Derek Built, ESPN, Twins Insider, SOX & Dawgs, Hot Foot, River Ave. Blues and Around the Majors
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Peavy, Padres nearing contract extension — New deal would guarantee ace's salary through 2012 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Padres and ace pitcher Jake Peavy have agreed to the basics of an extension that will guarantee his salary through 2012. Later this week, the sides will try to agree …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Pads near three-year extension with Peavy — FOXSports.com, Updated 9 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Padres, moving toward a watershed moment in franchise history, have made significant progress toward signing right-hander Jake Peavy to a three-year contract extension.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, San Diego Union-Tribune, MLB.com, MetsBlog.com, ESPN, Associated Press, Gaslamp Ball, Hot Foot and MLB Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Minaya under pressure in New York — FOXSports.com, Updated 2 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — Mets general manager Omar Minaya always takes a high-energy approach, but it would be understandable if he was even more motivated this off-season. — The pressure on him is growing.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Matt Murton could be trade bait — Hendry likes righty-hitting OF, but Cubs are in need of lefty bat — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had on his sweats and looked ready for a run Sunday on the eve of the winter meetings. All right, maybe not a run — perhaps just a brisk walk.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:Cubs, Sox target outfielders at winter meetings
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Willis likely to remain with Marlins — Team expects to retain left-hander, but will listen to offers — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While it seems inevitable that Miguel Cabrera will be leaving the Marlins, strong indications surfaced on Sunday that Dontrelle Willis will be staying in South Florida.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
O'Dowd not looking for major team fixes — Any transactions likely to be focused, limited — Five years removed from undertaking a major makeover of the Rockies, general manager Dan O'Dowd is not looking for ways to fine-tune a team coming off the franchise's first National League championship.
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Moore's approach puts Royals on track for jump in payroll — The primary challenge this week for Royals general manager Dayton Moore isn't finding sufficient payroll in his 2008 budget to pursue the club's two principal free-agent targets — outfielder Jose Guillen and right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.
