Top News:
Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
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.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox shoot down trade rumors about Dye, Jenks — LAS VEGAS - While the White Sox awaited word on whether free-agent Orlando Cabrera would decline their salary arbitration offer, two trade scenarios were shot down Sunday night on the eve of the winter meetings.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds deny Bailey-for-Dye trade rumor — LAS VEGAS — Trade rumors are a staple of Winter Meetings activity, and the Reds have shot down their first big rumor of the week. — On Sunday night, general manager Walt Jocketty categorically denied a report from the Dayton Daily News …
ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, JSOnline, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, iYankees and Scott Proctor's Arm
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
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 …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Joe McDonald / Providence Journal:Boras: Varitek declines arbitration from Sox
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Angels may need to decide soon between Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
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.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Hardy on edge as Meetings begin — Shortstop hopes to remain with Brewers despite trade rumors — LAS VEGAS — Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy had a message for general manager Doug Melvin & Co. as Milwaukee's contingent prepared to stroll the lobby of the Bellagio this week: — Please don't trade me.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Baseball players, agents, GMs set to wheel, deal in Las Vegas — LAS VEGAS — Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, is signing autographs for cash at Caesars Palace. Manny Pacquiao, who knocked out Oscar De La Hoya, is hanging out at the MGM Grand. The national rodeo finals are in town.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
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?”
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANK PLAN: CHECK, RAISE — Las Vegas is a city built on the backs of losers. Hall of Fame loser O.J. Simpson will leave it in handcuffs. Rap star Tupac departed in a body bag thanks to being ventilated on The Strip after a fight featuring Mike Tyson, one of the all-time losers.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
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 …
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Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
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.
Discussion:
PBC Blog, MLB Rumors, Baseball Time in Arlington, TEXAS RANGERS, Hot Foot and The Detroit Tiger Weblog
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John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
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 …
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
More boom or recession for baseball? — Will tough economic times keep pitcher CC Sabathia and sluggers Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira from mega-millions as expected? So far, yes, but this is the week of baseball's winter meetings, when the big bucks usually start to flow.
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / For the Record:Hot Stove News Tracker The Latest Buzz from around the Majors
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Mariners tab Cockrell as hitting coach — LAS VEGAS — When he picked up the telephone that was ringing inside his Colorado Springs home last week, Alan Cockrell had no idea it was a call that would get him back to the Major Leagues. — After two seasons as the Rockies hitting coach …
