Top News:
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Hendry, Williams join GMs for big-money swap meet — Cubs' Hendry, White Sox' Williams among GMs gathering for annual wheel-and-deal convention — Trying to get a clear read on the baseball landscape is tricky at this time of year because so much major talent still is sitting in the clearance aisle.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Payroll room for Peavy deal? — Hendry could add left-handed bat, too — The Cubs' payroll could climb by perhaps 10 percent or more from the final 2008 figure of about $130 million, a greater increase than initial reports this offseason — and the kind of increase that could allow general …
Associated Press:
Braves sign free-agent C David Ross — Buzz up! — ATLANTA (AP)—The Atlanta Braves added catching depth by signing free agent David Ross to a two-year, $3 million deal on Friday. — His agent, Ryan Gleichowski, said Ross will earn $1.4 million in 2009 and $1.6 million in 2010 in base salary.
Discussion:
Hardball
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Big Three pitchers rule Winter Meetings talk … While there could well be a string of free-agent signings at the Winter Meetings that convene in Las Vegas next week — heaven knows, plenty of talent remains available — it will be a surprise if CC Sabathia is among those signing new deals.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: CC and Cash, Renteria, and A-Rod — 1. I spoke to several baseball folks - executives and agents - about why they thought Brian Cashman flew to Las Vegas to meet personally with CC Sabathia. The consensus was that this is done because Cashman needs to look in Sabathia's eyes …
ESPN.com:
Maddux, 43, to announce retirement, agent says — Greg Maddux has thrown his last pitch. — The four-time Cy Young winner will announce his retirement Monday at the baseball winter meetings in Las Vegas. — Maddux, who turns 43 in April, ranks eighth on the career wins list with 355.
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Greg Maddux to retire on Monday — Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, says the pitcher will make his retirement official at baseball's winter meetings in Las Vegas. Maddux, who won 355 games, finished last season with the Dodgers. — Greg Maddux, who won four Cy Young awards and 355 games, will announce his retirement on Monday.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays sign three Minor Leaguers — Childers, Cummings, Richard receive invitations to Spring Training — ST. PETERSBURG — A dormant offseason ended on Friday, as the Rays brought three Minor Leaguers into the fold. — The Rays agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Jason Childers …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Zimmerman must wait for multi-year deal — Club likely to discuss numbers after next week's Winter Meetings — WASHINGTON — The Nationals and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman continue to have a good relationship, but they are not close to agreeing to a multi-year deal, according to a baseball source on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros sign Kata to Minors deal — Infielder receives Spring Training invite, could back up Tejada — HOUSTON — The Astros are in need of a utility infielder who can play shortstop to spell Miguel Tejada in 2009, and Matt Kata will have a chance to show he can handle the job.
Jesse Spector / Touching Base:
Nine Innings: Tim Dierkes — One of the most important people in the baseball offseason isn't a player, an agent or a general manager. He's a 26-year-old former search-engine marketing company employee based in Roselle, Ill., named Tim Dierkes. — From his home in the Chicago suburbs …
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Mets' off-season painfully slow so far — Earlier this off-season, the Mets had the opportunity to trade Aaron Heilman for a 30-year-old pitcher who's averaged 32 starts and 13 wins for the past five years while his teams won four division titles and a World Series.
