Source: Reds deal Bailey for White Sox slugger  —  Jermaine Dye, a 12-year veteran with a .278 career average, would give team a proven right-handed batter.  —  With baseball's annual winter meetings unfurling this week at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, rumors run rampant.

Las Vegas dealers  —  Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin runs a baseball team in middle America.  The economy is tough, yet he waits to hear whether CC Sabathia will accept their $100 million offer or whether he'll have to move on to Plan B.  —  As baseball's winter meetings …

Sabathia's agent to meet with Red Sox  —  The much-ballyhooed face-to-face meeting between Yankees GM Brian Cashman and CC Sabathia was finally scheduled to kick off Sunday night in Las Vegas, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the meeting.  But it wasn't Cashman who requested this close encounter.

CC, Sheets, Shouse decline arbitration  —  All three hurlers looking for multiyear deals on open market  —  LAS VEGAS — There were no surprises for the Brewers on Sunday, when free-agent pitchers CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse all declined the club's offer of arbitration.

Angels may need to decide soon between Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia  —  They risk losing out on both key free agents if GM Tony Reagins doesn't act decisively.  —  1. Tex hold 'em  —  The Angels have held off on making a substantive offer to first baseman Mark Teixeira …

Ready to roll the dice in Las Vegas … “In Vegas, I got into a long argument with the man at the roulette wheel over what I considered to be an odd number.”  —  So did you hear the one about the guy from Houston who walks into a Las Vegas casino, sits down at the blackjack table and says, “Deal me in?”

Tigers and Rangers making significant progress on possible trade  —  LAS VEGAS - The Tigers and Texas Rangers have made significant progress toward a trade that would send catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit and pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso to the Rangers.  —  It's not clear if the Tigers would include other prospects in the deal.

Winter meetings updates  —Las Vegas isn't just a mecca for gamblers (my Florida minus-2 gambit against Florida State failed in college hopes tonight) but closers, too.  Free-agent closers Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman are all in town to meet face-to-face with clubs …

Varitek to decline salary arbitration from Red Sox  —  LAS VEGAS - A source close to Sox catcher Jason Varitek confirmed that Varitek would decline salary arbitration from the Red Sox before the midnight deadline.  This will allow Varitek to pursue his free-agent market without being tied exclusively …

Bradley declines arbitration  —  No shock there.  The Rangers didn't expect Bradley to accept arbitration.  He's a Type B free agent, so if he does sign elsewhere, the Rangers get a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds of the 2009 draft.  —  BTW, to answer a few of your emails …

Rangers Cutting Payroll?  —  By Nat Boyle [December 7 at 12:10pm CST]  —  While not making any drastic reductions, the Rangers may be shedding payroll says Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.  This could make available Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Kevin Millwood, and Vincente Padilla.