Top News:
Dave Sheinin / Baseball Insider:
Red Sox-Mets Talking Deal For Schneider — Two industry sources here at the Bellagio have confirmed the Boston Red Sox are in discussions with the New York Mets about catcher Brian Schneider, a further indication the Red Sox are preparing for the departure of captain Jason Varitek.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
Winter Meetings update — The Mets talked several weeks ago to the Red Sox about dealing Brian Schneider. But the Met plan then was to trade Schneider and hopefully sign free agent Jason Varitek because the Mets thought better game-calling was needed. But once the Red Sox agreed …
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Tribe Report, Hardball, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Hot Stove Blog, MLB Rumors, New Jersey Online, MetsBlog.com and My Pinstripes
Gordon Edes / Yahoo! Sports:
Red Sox set sights on Teixeira — Buzz up! — LAS VEGAS - He is a decision-maker for a team that wants to be in the mix for free agent Mark Teixeira, but he has no illusions regarding the chances that Teixeira will sign with his team. — “I think he'll sign with the Red Sox,” the official said.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Pettitte among numerous options for Sox — LAS VEGAS - Shortly after Theo Epstein met with reporters tonight, an agent walking the hall of the Bellagio resort and casino gave the Red Sox the supreme compliment. — “They explore everything,” said the agent.
Discussion:
For the Record, iYankees, MLB Rumors, LA Times Sports Blog, Alex Speier and Boston Globe
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
YANKEES MEET WITH BEN SHEETS — LAS VEGAS — In addition to meeting with CC Sabathia today, the Yankees met with his former Brewers teammate and fellow free agent, Ben Sheets, late this afternoon. — Sheets, 30, who started the All-Star Game for the National League this season …
Discussion:
Hot Stove Blog, MLB.com, Pinstriped Scranton, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, The Yankee Scrolls, MLB Rumors and Pinstripes, Pa.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees Brewin' up multi-year offer for free agent Ben Sheets — LAS VEGAS - While most of the attention in the Yankees' universe is focused on CC Sabathia, the Bombers are preparing to make an offer to another free agent pitcher from Milwaukee in the next 72 hours.
ESPN.com:
GM: Sabathia says he would like to be a Dodger — Maybe CC Sabathia does indeed want to work close to home. — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Monday that he ran into the free agent on Sunday night in a hotel lobby and the left-hander told him that he wants to be a Dodger.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Update from the suite — Brian Cashman just said he met again today with CC Sabathia.
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:Cashman talks — Lots to talk about from the meeting with Brian Cashman:
Discussion:
MiamiHerald.com
Scott Miller's Bull Pennings:
Phillies involved in Cubs-Padres Peavy talks — LAS VEGAS — The continued effort between San Diego and the Cubs to figure out a way to send ace Jake Peavy to Chicago has resulted in their engaging the Philadelphia Phillies as a potential third team to help facilitate a deal, CBSSports.com has learned.
Discussion:
MASN Online, Chicago's Inside Pitch, Phillies Nation, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff and Hot Foot
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Hot Stove Blog:
Is a Peavy deal close? — LAS VEGAS - The legwork, complex and time-consuming, for a potential Jake Peavy trade to the Chicago Cubs has essentially been completed. — Now, all Padres general manager Kevin Towers needs is for his Cubs' counterpart, Jim Hendry, to give him the go-ahead to make the deal.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Towers sets deadline on potential Peavy trade — Jake Peavy reacts while pitching against the Baltimore Orioles, June 19, 2007. — LAS VEGAS — General Manager Kevin Towers, wrapping up his first full day at the winter meetings, said the Padres have identified the players needed …
Discussion:
MLB.com, ESPN, Philly.com, ESPN, The Cub Reporter (TCR), GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Rumors and Cubs f/x
New York Post:
K-ROD'S AGENT WILLING TO BE CREATIVE WITH METS — TALKING ABOUT SHORTER DEAL WITH OPT-OUT — Francisco Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, acknowledges his client set the single-season saves record at the wrong time. With the economy spiraling, Kinzer acknowledged the bids for his client are down, as well.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
METS CLOSE TO SIGNING K-ROD — LAS VEGAS - The Mets were on the brink last night of closing their most important game of the offseason - landing closer Francisco Rodriguez. — Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, said, “I am more optimistic than I have ever been” about finalizing a deal between the single-season save leader and the Mets.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
CC tells Colletti of interest in Dodgers — Dodgers GM hopes to re-sign Blake; talks for Cano not substantial — LAS VEGAS — In the Bellagio Hotel to meet with Yankees brass on Sunday night, free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia ran into Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and told him he wants to be a Dodger, Colletti said on Monday.
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Tomorrow notes: Blake deal not quite done
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, The LoHud Yankees Blog, ESPN, umpbump.com, LA Times Sports Blog and MLB Rumors
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Dodgers, Casey Blake close to agreement
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, MetsBlog.com, LA Times Sports Blog, Hot Stove Blog and My Pinstripes
Ken Gurnick / Hot Stove Blog:
Loretta, Dodgers agree to deal — The Dodgers bolstered their infield depth Monday night by agreeing to terms with utilityman Mark Loretta on a one-year contract, according to agent Bob Garber. Loretta must pass a physical exam Tuesday for the deal to be official.
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Denver Post:
Redding on radar possibly as starter — LAS VEGAS — The Rockies have discussed trading for Washington starter Tim Redding, two major-league sources said Monday. — With no one in the industry moving front-line pitchers, Colorado is focused on adding rotation depth.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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La Velle / Twins Insider:
Before you fire up the snowblower, here are more winter meetings updates — Just spoke with sources on both sides of the Delmon Young-to-the-Phillies rumor: — It would take more than Jason Donald for the Twins to make that deal. The Phillies are looking for a corner outfielder …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Maddux will be missed; could Ankiel be a Brave? — Las Vegas — He walked among us as just another guy, with an rather unimpressive physique and a wonderful whacked-out, self-deprecating sense of humor. — But atop the pitcher's mound, Greg Maddux was not just another guy. Or even just another major league ace.
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Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
Wrapping Up Day One — Here is the text of what I wrote about the Nationals for the print edition. Go to the jump for some additional nuggets that did not make the paper: — Whatever the view around the game is of the Washington Nationals' unlikely pursuit of free agent Mark Teixeira …
