Top News:
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.
RELATED:
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:
Bronx Banter, My Pinstripes, Scott Proctor's Arm, Sliding Into Home, MetsBlog.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Twins Territory, Philliesflow.com, Hot Stove New York, Bugs & Cranks, Depressed Fan, NJ.com, FanHouse, Mets Prospectus, Twinkie Town, Sox and Pinstripes, Mets Fever, the metropolitans, Kranepool Society, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, On the Mets beat, NorthJersey.com, Ya Gotta Believe, MetsMole.com, River Ave. Blues, Lone Star Mets, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, Bronx Liaison, Hot Foot and The Ropolitans
J. Weitzel / Beerleaguer:
Abridged MetsBlog: Santana deal hinges on prospect — Hot stove mania has cooled in this neck of the woods, but our rival blog is abuzz with rumors that the Mets are closing in on Johan Santana. [Link] — According to Joe Christensen of the Minnesota Star Tribune, the Twins have told …
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 little 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 has agreed in principle a one-year deal …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Trade Rumors, Basegirl, SOX & Dawgs, Rotoworld.com, The House That Dewey Built, The Joy of Sox and Over the Monster
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
MLB.com:
USOC, USADA, MLB and NFL announce partnership for anti-doping research — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The United States Olympic Committee (USOC), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) announced today the formation …
Discussion:
Bronx Liaison
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 …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Teahen hosts fashion show for Challenger program — Butler, DeJesus, Gordon and Meche among teammates stepping in as models — KANSAS CITY — Kansas City Royals outfielder Mark Teahen will host the “Mark Teahen...Challenge Your Fashion” fundraiser on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m …
Discussion:
Royals Review
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 …
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.
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Top 20 Prospects for 2008 — Tampa Bay Devil Rays Top 20 Prospects for 2008 — All grades are extremely preliminary and subject to change. — Evan Longoria, 3B, Grade A — David Price, LHP, Grade A — Jacob McGee, LHP, Grade A — Wade Davis, RHP, Grade B+
Discussion:
Baseball Musings