Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
METS, K-ROD CONTINUE TALKS — LAS VEGAS - Mets officials and representatives for Francisco Rodriguez were huddled this morning in attempts to put the last items in place for a contract that will bring the elite closer to New York on a contract in three-year, $37 million range.
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ESPN.com:
Sources: Mets agree to 3-year deal with K-Rod — The New York Mets agreed to a three-year deal with free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. — Rodriguez's deal, worth $37 million plus additional incentives, is pending a physical, which the New York Post reported will take place Wednesday.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Mets, K-Rod reach agreement on 3-year, $37M deal … LAS VEGAS — The Mets and star free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez have agreed to a deal. — The deal, which is expected to be consummated very soon, is said to be for about $37 million over three years.
Discussion:
Associated Press, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, Mariners Blog, LA Times Sports Blog, New York Post, MLB FanHouse, New York Times, Kranepool Society, The700Level.com, Purple Row, Bless You Boys, Walkoff Walk, Mets Geek, The LoHud Mets Blog, MetsBlog.com, 24 Hours From Suicide and River Avenue Blues
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: K-Rod, Ankiel and Sheets — 1. The Mets are about to get much better in the ninth inning and much worse behaved in the eyes of their most heated rivals. Remember how the Phillies and the rest of the NL East have expressed open distaste for the Mets' prancing style, embodied most by Jose Reyes' gesticulations?
John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
Vegas updates 2:58 p.m. PDT Dec. 9 —The Indians have signed off on Kerry Wood's medical report and will likely announce the signing of the free-agent right-hander either today or Wednesday. —If the surprising event the Cubs try to trade ace Carlos Zambrano, they will need his permission …
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Chicagosports / Hardball:
Cubs close to acquiring Jake Peavy — The Jake Peavy-Cubs trade talks have reached a point where it will be a stunner if the Cubs don't acquire Peavy, who immediately would become the best pitcher on a staff that already boasts Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden.
Roman Modrowski / Full Court Press:Jake Peavy wants to be a Cub
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, ESPN, River Avenue Blues, Chicago's Inside Pitch and The Cub Reporter (TCR)
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
UPDATED: Giants talk to Sabathia's camp; Yanks rumored to be out, Brewers emerging — UPDATE: An executive close to the CC Sabathia talks told me the perception is that the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner. — It's been confirmed to me that the Giants had discussions with CC Sabathia's camp …
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Sabathia slipping from Dodgers' grasp?
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:Yankees starting pitching search — updates on Sabathia, Burnett, Sheets, Pettitte
Discussion:
New York Post
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians close to deal with closer Wood — Offer to ex-Cubs fireballer might include option for third year — LAS VEGAS — The Indians appear to be close to signing closer Kerry Wood to a two-year contract, MLB.com has learned. — The offer to Wood might include an option for a third year …
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Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers, Mariners actively discussing Putz trade — LAS VEGAS - This morning, the Tigers and Seattle Mariners have discussed a trade that would bring closer J.J. Putz back to his home state. — It's not clear if the clubs are close to a deal, but the talks appear to be ongoing.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings, MLB FanHouse, Mariners Insider, Bleeding Blue and Teal, Detroit Tigers and Hot Foot
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Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Wood to Indians? — UPDATE (2:15 p.m.): A little broken telephone going on. It's actually Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez going to the Reds for outfielder Ryan Freel et al. Sorry for the mix-up. Expecting an announcement shortly...at 3:30 p.m., I'm now told.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Red Sox have more on mind than Teixeira — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — LAS VEGAS — While the Red Sox [team stats] continue to bide their time on making an offer to free agent Mark Teixeira, they continue to work multiple fronts in their efforts to improve the team.
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Gordon Edes / Yahoo! Sports:Red Sox set sights on Teixeira
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Nationals Journal, SOX & Dawgs, Red Sox Monster, Philliesflow.com, Center Field, LA Times Sports Blog, MLB Rumors and WEEI Blogs
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies closing in on deal for Embree — LAS VEGAS — The Rockies are closing in on the pitcher they believe is the right man for their left-handed bullpen vacancy, nearing an agreement with free agent Alan Embree on a one-year deal, according to a major league source familiar with negotiations.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Kubek honored with '09 Frick Award — Former Yankee was voice of a generation in NBC broadcast — Tony Kubek, the former New York Yankees shortstop who made even a bigger name for himself in his post-playing career as an analyst on NBC's old “Game of the Week” telecasts …
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Barry M. Bloom / National Baseball Hall …:Veterans tab Joe Gordon for Hall of Fame
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Analysts, The Futility Infielder and Bluebird Banter
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Winter Meetings 2008, Day 2: Pirates talk to Eckstein; Braves ask about McLouth, Maholm — LAS VEGAS — So, it is 2 a.m. local time, and the phone rings. — “Oh, no, not again,” the guy in the bed mutters. — Caller: “Dude, why didn't you call?” — Me: “What?” — Caller: “I just got traded.
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Francoeur for Greinke? — LAS VEGAS — Here are a couple of other things to add to colleague Nick Cafardo's list of items from late last night/this morning: — According to one National League executive, the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves have had serious discussions about a trade …
Discussion:
Baseball Digest Daily Blog, MetsBlog.com, ESPN, Mets Today, MLB Rumors, Bottom9 Baseball, Hardball Times and Talking Chop
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Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Billy Ripken Obscenity Bat: He Finally Talks 20 Years Later — Had Billy Ripken not received a shipment of less than ideal Louisville Slugger R161 models that year... Had Billy Ripken not decided to use one of those bats for batting practice that year... Had Billy Ripken not elected to mark that bat in a unique way that year...
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers finalize deal with Lamb — Third baseman seems likely to platoon with incumbent Hall — LAS VEGAS — The Brewers closed the deal with free-agent third baseman Mike Lamb on Tuesday morning, inking the veteran to a one-year contract that had been in the works for several days.
Discussion:
JSOnline
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks, Phils biggest suitors for Lowe — Other teams also courting righty, but pair reportedly front-runners — LAS VEGAS — The Yankees and Phillies have emerged as the two most prominent contenders for free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe, according to a report Tuesday on SI.com.
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog
