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:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, Blogging Baseball, The Sports Hernia Blog, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Twins Territory, MetsNetwork.com, Inspired Numbers, Twins Insider, The Bronx Block, NJ.com, My Pinstripes, Bombers Beat, Pinstripes PA, River Ave. Blues, FakeTeams, Pinstripe Alley, The Sommer Frieze, Scott Proctor's Arm, WasWatching.com, MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Sliding Into Home and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
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.
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.
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
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)
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
ChiSox get Swisher 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.
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
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.
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:
Center Field, Red Sox Chick, Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Surviving Grady, Bugs & Cranks, Misery Loves Company 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