Top News:
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:
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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said publicly the Minnesota Twins must make a decision on whether to accept New York's offer by today, or it will be withdrawn.
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.
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:
ESPN, The Weblog That Derek Built, Twins Insider, SOX & Dawgs, Hot Foot, River Ave. Blues and Around the Majors
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.
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.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Santana, Cabrera and more Opryland excitement … There's no edition of the winter meetings quite like a Nashville/Opryland edition of the winter meetings. — Where Christmas carolers do their best to out-warble America's finest GMs. Where dancing waters outnumber dancing agents.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Is it deal or no deal for the Angels?
Discussion:
MLB Trade 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.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers step up interest in A. Jones — NASHVILLE — The Dodgers have stepped up talks with free-agent center fielder Andruw Jones, a club official confirmed Sunday. — Jones is coming off the worst season of his career — .222 average, 26 homers, 96 RBIs.
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:Cubs, Sox target outfielders at winter meetings
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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.
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:
Arizona Republic, Baseball Musings, San Diego Union-Tribune, MLB.com, MetsBlog.com, ESPN, Associated Press, Gaslamp Ball, Hot Foot and MLB Rumors
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Writing on the wall for Burke — Matsui signing likely signals end of infielder's Astros career — HOUSTON — Technically, Chris Burke is still a member of the Houston Astros. But in the wake of Sunday's transaction that officially made Kazuo Matsui the club's second baseman for the next three years …
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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.
