Top News:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Report: Mets gaining in Santana race — National League club could have edge in dealings with Twins — MINNEAPOLIS — Since the Johan Santana sweepstakes began in late November, the Yankees and the Red Sox have been considered the frontrunners in the race for the ace.
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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 …
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:
Nick & Nick's Twins Blog, Blastings! Thrilledge, Mets 4 Life, Chop-n-Change, Bugs & Cranks, Depressed Fan, MetsNetwork.com, Twins Territory, NJ.com, MetsBlog.com, Mets Prospectus, Mets Fever, On the Mets beat, the metropolitans, Ya Gotta Believe, Bronx Liaison, Kranepool Society and MLB Trade Rumors
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees sign OF Lane — Brian Cashman said on YES tonight that the Yankees have signed Jason Lane to a minor-league deal. — A right-handed bat, Lane can play all three OF spots and a little first base. He's 31 and coming off two hideous seasons. He did hit 26 homers in 2005.
Discussion:
The Baseball Outsider, Depressed Fan, Pinstripes PA, MY BASEBALL BIAS, The Chuck Knoblog and MLB Trade Rumors
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Fox Sports:
Yanks join Brewers and others in pursuit of Cameron — The Brewers face strong competition for free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron, perhaps stronger than they even imagined.
Discussion:
Brewers Blog, MY BASEBALL BIAS, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, WasWatching.com and MLB Trade Rumors
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers mulling Cameron and others — I finally got through to general manager Doug Melvin this afternoon and he confirmed he has interest in signing free-agent centerfielder Mike Cameron. — But Melvin was quick to point out that he is considering other options as well.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
T.J. Quinn / ESPN.com:
Immunity not expected for Clemens, source says … A congressional source said Thursday that a House committee does not expect to give immunity to former pitcher Roger Clemens or four other witnesses who are scheduled to testify about performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball on Feb. 13.
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Washington Post
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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 …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers could add pitcher Jennings — Source says Rangers are close to deal with veteran right-hander — egrant@dallasnews.com — The Texas Rangers appear to be closing in on a deal to add veteran right-hander Jason Jennings, a Dallas native, to their starting rotation.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Larry Dobrow / CBS SportsLine.com:
Paper-clipping five more to Congress' hearings — It's been said that Congress will waste its time and ours with next week's planned hearing on performance-enhancing substances in baseball. It's been suggested that maybe they should devote their idle hours to pesky issues like poverty or immigration …
Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
Kennedy: Member Of '04 Red Sox Used PEDs — On the drive home tonight, from work, I caught the very last minutes of The Show on X-Radio (MLB Home Plate) with Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy. — At that time, Kevin Kennedy was addressing a caller who had some thoughts on the Mitchell Report.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Reitsma, Mariners agree to Minors deal — Veteran reliever attempts to return after elbow injury — A right elbow injury that limited right-hander Chris Reitsma to 26 appearances last season has improved enough for the Mariners to offer the veteran reliever another chance to establish himself in Seattle's bullpen.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
‘Melk-man’ to be delivered a Thurman — Yanks' center fielder, four others recognized for philanthropy — NEW YORK — The word “energy” became an inside catch-phrase for the Yankees' clubhouse last season, with Melky Cabrera's youthful spirit serving as a major driving force toward the team's second-half turnaround.
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Notes: Huff slated for hernia surgery — Veteran infielder could miss early days of Spring Training — BALTIMORE — Aubrey Huff became Baltimore's first offseason casualty Thursday night, when the designated hitter announced through the Orioles that he will undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia on Friday in Philadelphia.
