Top News:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Teams starting to make pitches — Just as the Red Sox were announcing a new $40.5 million contract for Dustin Pedroia yesterday, baseball's sputtering offseason finally began to whir. The pitching market began to develop, and the price appeared to be going up.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, iYankees, MLB FanHouse, Beerleaguer, Phillies Nation and Sliding Into Home
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Sabathia's heart may be in S.F. — Just how badly does CC Sabathia want to pitch at home in California? We may find out very soon. — Sources say the Giants are considering a play for Sabathia, although their only hope of landing the big lefthander would be for him to take an extreme hometown discount.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, New York Post, JSOnline, MLB Rumors, McCovey Chronicles, iYankees and Sliding Into Home
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Agents Work to Avoid a Pay Cut for Pettitte — Before the Yankees ended their disappointing 2008 season, Andy Pettitte toured the new Yankee Stadium. While he was in the spacious clubhouse, he picked out the locker that he said he wanted to use in 2009. — Whether or not Pettitte …
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Detroit Tigers acquire SS Jack Wilson from Pirates — It seems to be the week for shortstop roulette on the Hot Stove, and the latest is that the Pirates have sent Jack Wilson to the Tigers. — The teams had been in discussions for a while, but according to a person familiar with the deal, it is done.
Discussion:
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Wilson willing to revisit no-trade clause — Pirates shortstop open to allowing deal to Tigers — PITTSBURGH — On Thursday, Jack Wilson had to laugh about the flurry of voicemails he received in the minutes after the Newark Star-Ledger Web site posted a report that Wilson had been traded to the Tigers just after noon ET.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
No Jack Wilson Deal — By Tim Dierkes [December 4 at 2:30pm CST] — 2:30pm: Jenifer Langosch talked to Wilson, who said he's open to revising his no-trade list. He doesn't seem likely to veto a trade. — 12:41pm: Jon Paul Morosi's source says the Tigers' talks for Wilson have become “more active and meaningful” recently.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: Putz Made Available, Bradford and Baldelli — 1. A rumor was floated yesterday that the Mets are working on a blockbuster that would net them both Bobby Jenks and Jermaine Dye from the White Sox, with top prospect Fernando Martinez going to Chicago. Talked to a few Met officials who called it nonsense.
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Shortstop Greene heading to St. Louis — The Padres and Cardinals have agreed to a trade that will send shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis. — The Padres are expected to get pitching in return for Greene, but this move appears to be more about moving Greene's $6.5 million salary in anticipation of a much smaller payroll in 2009.
Discussion:
MLB.com, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LA Times Sports Blog, MASN Online, MLB FanHouse, River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves make offer to free-agent pitcher Burnett — GM Wren wouldn't discuss terms, but offer believed to be four years with option for fifth year — The Braves have made an offer to free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett, who is considered the second-best starter available this offseason behind CC Sabathia.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, The Yankee Scrolls, iYankees, Hot Foot and Sliding Into Home
Fox Sports:
Market shaping up for Adam Dunn — He may not be Manny or Teixeira, but signing Adam Dunn won't cost a pick. That means teams are lining up, Ken Rosenthal says.
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Tough call coming for Manny — The last time that the agent for Manny Ramirez spoke with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, Barack Obama was on television in the background, making his acceptance speech on the night he was elected president. Since then, the Dodgers withdrew that two-year, $45 million offer to Ramirez.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, LA Times Sports Blog, Baseball Musings, Blue Notes, umpbump.com and Dodger Thoughts
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Reds sign Lincoln to two-year deal — While the Rockies are moving methodically in their search for relievers, a few have come off the board over the last few days. The Cincinnati Reds signed right-handed free agent Mike Lincoln to a two-year, $4-million deal accoding to contract information obtained by The Denver Post.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves complete Vazquez deal — Veteran starter returns to NL East in trade with White Sox — ATLANTA — The Braves had their eyes on Javier Vazquez for a long time, all the way back to when he pitched for the Montreal Expos, who no longer exist. But Vazquez is still pitching, and at last …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Rate of increase in MLB salary declined in 2008 — CBSSports.com wire reports — NEW YORK — Baseball salaries started to slow this year even before the economy cooled. — The average salary in Major League Baseball this season was $2.93 million, the players' association said Thursday in its annual report.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
