Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
CC SABATHIA PICKS YANKEES — LAS VEGAS - CC Sabathia is not going to play on the West Coast. He is not going to play in the National League. CC Sabathia is going to be a Yankee, The Post has learned exclusively. — After three straight days of face-to-face meetings between GM Brian Cashman …
Discussion:
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks, Sabathia close to deal … LAS VEGAS — Free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia is about to sign with the Yankees, SI.com has confirmed. The deal being finalized now is expected to pay Sabathia about $160 million over seven years. — The two sides are on the verge of an agreement …
Yahoo! Sports:
Opt-out clause key to Sabathia going to Yankees — Buzz up! — LAS VEGAS - Baseball's perennial high-rollers, the New York Yankees, scored the biggest coup of the winter meetings when CC Sabathia reached preliminary agreement on a deal that will pay him $161 million over the next seven years.
Discussion:
JSOnline, Baseball Insider, Associated Press, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Sliding Into Home, Scott Proctor's Arm and iYankees
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Sources: Yankees close to deal with Sabathia — Sabathia And Yankees Very Close To A Deal — LAS VEGAS — CC Sabathia will be a New York Yankee. — The Yankees are “very close” to a preliminary agreement with Sabathia on Wednesday morning, following an in-person meeting between GM Brian Cashman …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Cashman, Sabathia meet a 3rd time … LAS VEGAS — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew up to the Bay Area to meet Tuesday with top free-agent pitching target CC Sabathia amid growing optimism that the Yankees might yet win the battle for the superstar southpaw.
Discussion:
New York Post, YanksBlog.com, Talking Chop, New Jersey Online, River Avenue Blues and iYankees
Newsday:
Brian Cashman meeting with CC Sabathia for third time — Pitcher CC Sabathia (AP Photo) — LAS VEGAS - Brian Cashman is meeting with CC Sabathia for the third consecutive day, this time in San Francisco. — Multiple sources confirmed the Cashman-Sabathia meeting to Newsday.
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Cork Gaines / MLB Rumors:
Sabathia Reaches Agreement With Yankees — By Cork Gaines [December 10 at 10:14am CST] — 10:14am: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes of Yahoo report that the deal is for $161MM over seven years (which would top Johan's average annual value). — The deal has an opt-out clause after the first three years, which are worth $69MM.
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Yankees making big-time progress with Sabathia — There appears to have been a major break in the Yankees' negotiations with free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia, and the sides appear closer than ever to a deal. — “From (Tuesday) morning until (Tuesday) night, things are looking a lot …
NY Daily News:
CC agrees to 7-year, $160M deal with Yanks — Brian Cashman went to San Fran and got his man, bagging ace lefty CC Sabathia for what is believed to be a record-setting 7-year, $160 million deal. CC timeline — The Bitter Bill: Another awful day for Met fans
Sabernomics:
Wisely Spending on CC — Apparently, CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees have agreed to a seven-year $160 million contract, which is just under $23 million per season. [Update: Tim Brown is reporting the deal is for $161 million (exactly $23 million per year) and has an opt-out clause after three years.]
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees making a move on Sabathia
Yankees making a move on Sabathia
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Reports: Sabathia close to seven-year deal with Yankees
Reports: Sabathia close to seven-year deal with Yankees
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
Cashman leaves hotel for mystery meetings — Burnett? Sabathia again?
Cashman leaves hotel for mystery meetings — Burnett? Sabathia again?
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
UPDATED: Giants talk to Sabathia's camp; Yanks rumored to be out, Brewers emerging (51)
UPDATED: Giants talk to Sabathia's camp; Yanks rumored to be out, Brewers emerging (51)
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Twins could play a role in the Jake Peavy sweepstakes — Two persons with knowledge of negotiations said the Twins and Cubs talked yesterday about a deal for infielder Mark DeRosa - a potential move that would get the Twins involved in the most talked-about trade of the offseason.
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Chicago Tribune:
Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood agrees to deal with Cleveland Indians — LAS VEGAS — With two teams to pick from in the American League Central, Kerry Wood appears to have rejected overtures from Detroit to take a deal with Cleveland. — Wood's decision to sign with the Indians followed …
Discussion:
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Search for a closer escalates — LAS VEGAS — Going where the free agent current takes them, the Cardinals have made the search for a veteran closer their priority after apparently bidding too little for free agent Francisco Rodriguez. — General manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets, K-Rod look to have deal
Mets, K-Rod look to have deal
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Amazin' Avenue, sox1fan.com, ESPN, Baseball Prospectus, CastroTurf, Lone Star Mets and New Jersey Online
Toronto Sun:
Jays searching for a shortstop — LAS VEGAS — The Blue Jays have been shopping the Bellagio lobby for a shortstop. — They met with the agent for Rafael Furcal, they have discussed Ty Wigginton and they have looked at Jason Bartlett. — Free-agent Furcal, who turned down a four-year offer …
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John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
Vegas updates 4:50p.m.
Vegas updates 4:50p.m.
Discussion:
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' priority: pitching — Veteran reliever Embree agrees to one-year deal while team still purses Redding — LAS VEGAS — The Rockies' strategy at the winter meetings centers more on protecting leads than building them. — Colorado has agreed in principle on a one-year contract …