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, MY BASEBALL BIAS, The Sports Hernia Blog, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Twins Territory, MetsNetwork.com, Inspired Numbers, Twins Insider, The Bronx Block, NJ.com, Bombers Beat, Pinstripes PA, River Ave. Blues, FakeTeams, My Pinstripes, The Sommer Frieze, Scott Proctor's Arm, Pinstripe Alley, WasWatching.com, MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Sliding Into Home and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
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 …
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.
Discussion:
Hugging Harold Reynolds
CBS News:
Clemens: Trainer Only Injected Legal Drug — Roger Clemens Talks To 60 Minutes In Wake Of Mitchell Report — (CBS/AP) Baseball superstar Roger Clemens denies he cheated by using banned substances and says his accuser, former trainer Brian McNamee, only injected him with the painkiller lidocaine and the vitamin B-12.
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.
Michael S. Schmidt / Bats:
CBS Clarifies Wallace's Account of Clemens Interview
CBS Clarifies Wallace's Account of Clemens Interview
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
Duff Wilson / New York Times:
Clemens's Interview Could Lead to Lawsuit
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
RELATED:
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 …
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, Minor League Ball, Sox Machine, Beyond the Box Score and South Side Sox
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.
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:
Associated Press:
Cards, Clement reach 1-year $1.5M deal — ST. LOUIS (AP) - Matt Clement and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Thursday with a club option for 2009. — Clement missed last season while recovering from shoulder surgery. He last pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 2006.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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.
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:
Red Sox Chick, Center Field, Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Surviving Grady, Misery Loves Company, Bugs & Cranks and With Leather
RELATED:
ESPN:
Chat with Scouts Inc.'s Keith Law — Welcome to The Show! On Thursday, Scouts, Inc. senior baseball analyst, Keith Law, will stop by to talk some baseball. — Keith was formerly the special assistant to the general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays and has a wealth of knowledge for you to tap into.
Discussion:
Mets Fever