Top News:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Yanks: We have shot at Johan Santana — After what he described as a “slow holiday season” for baseball business, Hank Steinbrenner is returning to his office Thursday to begin working on “a final decision” regarding a trade for Johan Santana. And he believes the Yankees have made the top offer for the Minnesota ace.
Discussion:
ESPN, Twins Territory, MY BASEBALL BIAS, The Sports Hernia Blog, Twins Insider, NJ.com, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, MetsNetwork.com, Inspired Numbers, The Bronx Block, Bombers Beat, Pinstripes PA, River Ave. Blues, FakeTeams, My Pinstripes, Scott Proctor's Arm, WasWatching.com, Pinstripe Alley, MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Sliding Into Home and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Roger Clemens won't be Yankee in 2008 — Is there a chance for the Rocket's third stage in pinstripes? Not likely, says Hank Steinbrenner. — So if embattled righthander Roger Clemens, who is fighting to restore his reputation after the allegations about him in the Mitchell Report …
NY Daily News:
Roger Clemens tells ‘60 Minutes’ he received painkiller injections — Roger Clemens admits on “60 Minutes” that he received injections from his former personal trainer, but tells Mike Wallace that the shots were only for B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine, according to a statement released Thursday by CBS.
ESPN.com:
Clemens: Injections were ‘Lidocaine and B-12’ — Roger Clemens says he was injected with “Lidocaine and B-12” and not steroids or human growth hormone by former trainer Brian McNamee, according to a portion of an interview with CBS' “60 Minutes” released Thursday. — “Lidocaine and B-12.
Michael S. Schmidt / Bats:
CBS Clarifies Wallace's Account of Clemens Interview — UPDATED: In a statement, CBS attempted to clarify Mike Wallace's characterization of an interview with Roger Clemens for “60 Minutes." Read the news story including new quotes from Wallace's interview with Clemens here.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
Duff Wilson / New York Times:Clemens's Interview Could Lead to Lawsuit
Discussion:
Associated Press, Deadspin, FakeTeams, FanHouse, ShysterBall, Hot Stove New York and Scott Proctor's Arm
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily:
Swisher Dealt to the White Sox (Updated)! — The Oakland A's today traded outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney. — Notes from Conference Call (3:30 PM ET)
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, MetsBlog.com, Athletics Nation, Knuckle Curve, Over the Monster and Big League Futures
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
A's send Swisher to Sox for prospects — Switch-hitting outfielder traded for three top Minor Leaguers — CHICAGO — With the first major trade of 2008, the White Sox added a veteran outfielder with power and on-base potential and Oakland picked up three top-flight Minor Leaguers …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
ESPN.com:
Swisher dealt to White Sox for 3 minor leaguers — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics made their second major trade in three weeks, sending outfielder and fan favorite Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for three minor leaguers on Thursday. — The A's — who dealt ace Dan Haren …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nick Swisher Traded To White Sox — Baseball Digest Daily is reporting that the A's have traded Nick Swisher to the White Sox for Gio Gonzalez, Fautino De Los Santos, and Ryan Sweeney. I'd heard about the Sweeney part but hadn't been able to confirm it. This is a fascinating trade - let's discuss.
MLB.com:
White Sox acquire outfielder Nick Swisher from Athletics in exchange for three Minor Leaguers — CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have acquired switch-hitting outfielder Nick Swisher from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for three minor league players, pitcher Gio Gonzalez, pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards sign Clement to one-year deal — The Cardinals added a starting pitcher today who sat out all of 2007 as he recovered from shoulder surgery. — Matt Clement, who last pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 2006, signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals today. The deal includes a club option for 2009.
RELATED:
Red Sox Monster:
Youk charity effort inspired by.... ugly women? — Kevin Youkilis has always seemed like a relatively fun-loving guy. He horses around with teammates, parties hard when it's appropriate and regularly gets made fun of for his, uh, stellar good looks, but seldom seems to mind.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Surviving Grady, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Center Field, Misery Loves Company, Bugs & Cranks and With Leather
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Peter_Gammons / Boston Globe:
Peter Gammons Red Sox chat transcript — Hi Peter, do you think Julio Lugo is the long-term answer at shortstop for the Sox ? — Hello everyone... RE: Lugo: The way he played defensively the last 5 weeks, indicates he should be all right. He never recovered offensively from being sick before spring training.
Discussion:
umpbump.com
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:
Santana affects Kielty's Sox future … Bobby Kielty, like the rest of the baseball world, spent another afternoon yesterday waiting for news of a Johan Santana trade. — Kielty, a former teammate of Santana in Minnesota, has a particular interest in any potential deal involving the Red Sox [team stats].
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Larkin mentors Dukes — Former All-Star preparing Nats outfielder for Spring Training — WASHINGTON — A few days before the Winter Meetings started in Nashville, Tenn., Nationals general manager Jim Bowden called Barry Larkin, his special assistant, to ask if Larkin had ever heard …
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
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