Top News:
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 Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Mets, K-Rod reach 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. — The Mets badly needed a big-time closer …
ESPN:
Source: Mets agree to 3-year deal with K-Rod — Mets Close To Deal With Francisco Rodriguez — The New York Mets agreed to a three-year deal with free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez, a source told ESPN. — The deal, worth $37 million plus addition incentives, is pending a physical.
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.
Discussion:
Mets Blog, MLB Rumors, Mets Merized Online, Can't Stop The Bleeding and 24 Hours From Suicide
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.
David Lennon / Newsday:Mets close to landing K-Rod with 3-year deal
Discussion:
NY Daily News, On the Mets beat, Bugs & Cranks, NJ.com, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, MetsBlog.com and LA Times Sports Blog
Joel Sherman / New York Post:METS CLOSE TO SIGNING K-ROD
Discussion:
MLB.com, Detroit Free Press, Yahoo! Sports, MattTracy.com, Mets Merized Online, My Pinstripes, The 'Ropolitans and Hot Foot
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Bombers Brewin' up 30M offer for 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. — According to a source …
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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?
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.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox interested in Pavano? (And other whispers . . .) — LAS VEGAS — A few things heard while walking through the Bellagio Hotel early this morning . . . 1. The Red Sox are one of a few teams mentioned by agent Tom O'Connell as interested parties for free agent righthander Carl Pavano, a former Boston farmhand.
Discussion:
Providence Journal, MetsBlog.com, Bugs & Cranks, MLB Rumors, Siberian Baseball and sox1fan.com
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Pettitte among 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 a supreme compliment. — “They explore everything,” said the agent. — Including a name that should be familiar …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Winter Meetings Day 2: Phils pitching prospects discussed in Peavy deal — Tidbits from Day Two at the winter meetings: — The Padres shot down a national report that they are targeting Phillies catcher Chris Coste. Obviously things can change, but another source also poured cold water …
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Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:Source: Cubs not ‘remotely close’ to Peavy deal
Discussion:
Associated Press
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Yankees starting pitching search — updates on Sabathia, Burnett, Sheets, Pettitte — Free-agent lefty CC Sabathia has been in contact with the San Francisco Giants and is convinced they will become a serious bidder for his services in the coming days and weeks, according to a person familiar with his thinking.
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers agree to terms with Loretta — Infielder must pass physical before one-year deal is official — LAS VEGAS — While closing in on re-signing third baseman Casey Blake, the Dodgers further solidified their infield depth Monday night by agreeing to terms with veteran utilityman Mark Loretta …
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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:
Boston Globe, New York Times, Nationals Journal, Red Sox Monster, LA Times Sports Blog, SOX & Dawgs, Philliesflow.com and MLB Rumors
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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...
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Barry M. Bloom / National Baseball Hall …:
Veterans tab Joe Gordon for Hall of Fame — Yankees, Indians second baseman named on 10 of 12 ballots — • Veterans Committee news conference: Watch — • Conference call with Gordon's children: Listen — • Hall President Jeff Idelson on this year's election: Watch
RELATED:
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:
ESPN, Baseball Digest Daily Blog, Hardball Times, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Mets Today, Talking Chop and Bottom9 Baseball
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.
ESPN:
Phils, Mets, Cubs going after Ibanez — The Phillies, Mets and Cubs appear to have separated themselves from the pack of teams pursuing outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also is on the radar screen of the Braves and Angels. But the Braves have their pursuit of all their outfield options …
ESPN:
Rays might re-acquire Young — Stuff can change fast at the winter meetings. Contrary to what I reported Monday morning on this very blog, there were indications Monday night that Tampa Bay was still talking to the Twins about a deal that would bring outfielder Delmon Young back to the Rays.
