Top News:
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.
RELATED:
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mariners Blog, MLB Rumors, Hot Stove Blog, Mariners Insider, Bless You Boys and Hot Foot
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.
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
Joel Sherman / New York Post:METS CLOSE TO SIGNING K-ROD
Discussion:
MLB.com, Detroit Free Press, Yahoo! Sports, MattTracy.com, Mets Merized Online and My Pinstripes
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.
RELATED:
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
Discussion:
Boston Herald, For the Record, Subway Squawkers, My Pinstripes, Hardball Times, Mike Silva's NY Baseball … and SOX & Dawgs
Roman Modrowski / Full Court Press:Jake Peavy wants to be a Cub
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, ESPN, River Avenue Blues, The Cub Reporter (TCR) and Chicago's Inside Pitch
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 …
RELATED:
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?
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Sabathia slipping from Dodgers' grasp? — Even as the Dodgers' deals with Mark Loretta and Casey Blake appear to be either done or close to done, it might not help their effort to sign CC Sabathia, something the Dodgers aren't expected to try to do until they fill their shortstop vacancy.
RELATED:
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:Yankees starting pitching search — updates on Sabathia, Burnett, Sheets, Pettitte
Discussion:
New York Post
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:Sabathia peppers Yankees with lifestyle questions
Discussion:
Pinstripes, Pa.
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 …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
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, SOX & Dawgs, Philliesflow.com and LA Times Sports Blog
RELATED:
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Winter Meetings 2008, Day 2: Contact made with Eckstein — 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. Thought you'd have called me by now.”
RELATED:
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...
Joel Sherman / Yankees Blog:
Winter Meetings Day 2 Update —Though Garrett Atkins' name has come up a lot this offseason, Rockies officials insist he is not going to be traded. —The Rockies continue to be interested in Aaron Heilman, even if it does not involve a Huston Street trade.
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.
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:
MLB.com, Baseball Digest Daily Blog, Hardball Times, ESPN, MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors, Mets Today, Bottom9 Baseball and Talking Chop
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 …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians close to deal with closer Wood — Offer to ex-Cubs fireballer includes option for third season — LAS VEGAS — The Indians just might satisfy their need for a closer at the Winter Meetings. — Talks with free-agent right-hander Kerry Wood have gained momentum this week …
Discussion:
The DiaTribe
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rox 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.
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.
