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.
RELATED:
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.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Sliding Into Home, Pinstripes PA, WasWatching.com, YanksBlog.com and ShysterBall
ESPN.com:
Steroid hearing delayed — WASHINGTON — Congress wants to be prepared when Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, head to Capitol Hill. — The House hearing involving Clemens, McNamee and Andy Pettitte was postponed Wednesday from Jan. 16 until Feb. 13 …
RELATED:
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
Roger Clemens hearing postponed — The congressional hearing featuring Roger Clemens and other Major League Baseball players named as steroid users in the Mitchell Report has been postponed until Feb. 13, according to a release by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Goose: ‘Probably’ would've used steroids — NEW YORK (AP) — Goose Gossage can understand why some players would try steroids. With major league salaries so high, finding a way to extend a career is an awfully tempting proposition. — “Chances are, I probably would have done it, too,” Gossage said Wednesday.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, New York Post, Sliding Into Home, ShysterBall, The Bronx Stop and USA Today
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
MLB.com:
Thirty game broadcasts highlight 2008 Mets Spring Training schedule — 19 on TV; 11 on radio; Tickets to Spring Training games at Tradition Field go on sale Saturday, Jan. 19 — FLUSHING — The New York Mets today announced their 2008 Spring Training broadcast schedule which features 16 telecasts …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves considering Kotsay or Patterson for CF? — A couple of things to ponder while wondering who among you would've believed a few years ago that Marcus Giles would be reduced to signing a minor-league contract this winter at age 29. — Giles, who in 2003 had 49 doubles …
Curt Feldman / CNN:
Star pitcher trading baseballs for video games — (GameTap.com) — Curt Schilling, the split-finger fastballer from Boston with a penchant for honoring superstitions, playing through pain, and winning, says he intends to play only one more year of baseball. “I'm done.
Discussion:
SawxBlog
Tim Dierkes / Roto Authority Fantasy Baseball:
Jose Reyes Vs. Hanley Ramirez — Time for a shortstop smackdown. These guys are both getting picked toward the top of the first round - which one is a better bet for 2008? — Jose Reyes — Age: 24.6 — Games in Majors: 596 — 2006 line: .300-17-81-122-64 in 647 ABs (value of $47.89 under my system)
Discussion:
Flushing University
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers showing interest in Cameron — Though it seems to make little sense on the surface, a source confirmed to me this evening that the Brewers are showing interest in signing free agent centerfielder Mike Cameron. — The Brewers supposedly are looking for a left-handed hitting leftfielder.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
So, who's really in charge of the Yankees? — For the better part of three months, Hank Steinbrenner has said that it'll be up to him whether the Yankees trade for Johan Santana. He made similar comments about signing Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. — Turns out that's only half true.
