Top News:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Yankees may give up on Johan Santana — Brian Cashman has remained protective of the Yankees' assembled prospects, while Hal Steinbrenner has been equally shielding of the team's finances. — Hank Steinbrenner? That's been another story for much of the winter.
Discussion:
My Pinstripes, Bronx Banter, Scott Proctor's Arm, Sliding Into Home, MetsBlog.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
LANE MIGHT JOIN YANKS AT 1ST BASE — Just in case Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit aren't enough at first base heading to spring training, the Yankees have interest in adding free agent Jason Lane, according to a source. — Lane, 31, was not tendered a contract by the Padres …
Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Yankees ... Red Sox ... or maybe the Mets — The less talked-about team from New York might be a better match for the Twins in Johan Santana trade talks. — After weeks of speculation that the Yankees and Red Sox were the two favorites to land Johan Santana, the Twins could wind up shipping him to the Mets.
Discussion:
On the Mets beat, Hot Stove New York, Depressed Fan, Mets Prospectus, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Twinkie Town, Philliesflow.com, NJ.com, Mets Fever, Mets Merized Online, Kranepool Society, the metropolitans, FanHouse, Bugs & Cranks, Sox and Pinstripes, MetsBlog.com, Ya Gotta Believe, NorthJersey.com, Lone Star Mets, River Ave. Blues, MetsMole.com, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, AaronGleeman.com, Bronx Liaison, Hot Foot and The Ropolitans
Joe / Around the Majors:
Santana's asking price hasn't changed — Last month, I wrote that the New York Mets were not to be taken seriously in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told me that Mets owner Fred Wilpon was against the idea of signing any pitcher to the kind of contract extension Santana is seeking.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Blastings! Thrilledge, MLB Trade Rumors, Bronx Liaison, Mets Fever, Newsday, NJ.com and SOX & Dawgs
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Report: Yanks may be out for Santana — Steinbrenner says money, prospects may kill deal for Twins ace — NEW YORK — The Yankees have spent most of their offseason batting around a deal for Johan Santana, internally debating the merits of swapping young talent for the established Twins ace.
Tony Massarotti / Clubhouse Insider:
Mirabelli to return — The Red Sox have done relatively to address their bench so far this offseason, but the team is on the verge of addressing its catching situation by bringing back Doug Mirabelli. — According to sources, Mirabelli is close to accepting a one-year deal from the team …
Eric SanInocencio / Rays Anatomy:
Car Jumping Translates Into Baseball Skills.....Right? — As a newcomer to the Rays family, I admit that my past history concerning Tampa Bay's franchise consists on what I watched on television or anecdotes that were mentioned in the news. While I follow them exclusively now …
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates minicamp: Huntington says roster mostly set — GM's hope for major trade fizzled, prompted retrenchment — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' roster, despite precious few changes this offseason, is pretty much set for 2008. — “From a substantial additions standpoint, yeah …
Brian McTaggart / Houston Chronicle:
Astros ink 5 to minor league deals — Team announces spring training set to kick off Feb. 14 — Infielder Lance Niekro, the son of Astros all-time wins leader Joe Niekro, was among five players signed by the Astros to minor league contracts and given invitations to spring training Wednesday.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates approach LaRoche about long-term deal — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates have approached first baseman Adam LaRoche to discuss a contract that could span three or four years, a signing that would be the franchise's most significant since shortstop Jack Wilson's four-year extension in 2006.
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
Study Suggests That Amputee Holds an Unfair Advantage — The Olympic aspirations of Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee sprinter from South Africa, may end soon. Track and field's world governing body is expected to announce that he is ineligible to race against able-bodied athletes …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
New hire completes front-office overhaul — With his lieutenants now in place, new Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak's front office is done taking shape and is moving on to establishing its identity. — The Cardinals announced Wednesday the hiring of Gary LaRocque, a longtime executive with the New York Mets.
Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
Bad time to acquire a juicer — Leadoff hitter could be perfect addition to awesome lineup, but admitted user of performance-enhancing drugs also would kill club's integrity — Is it possible a man can use steroids only once? Does he feel a needle pierce the hide of his buttocks and realize …
Discussion:
vorosmccracken.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs' Lyon seeks multiyear contract — The Diamondbacks have had brief discussions with the representative for reliever Brandon Lyon about a multiyear contract, but agent Barry Meister said the sides have some hurdles to overcome if a deal is to be reached.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
