Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Boras: Sox offer Tek, multiple offers for Tex — LAS VEGAS — Scott Boras addressed a massive pack of reporters here at the Bellagio at roughly 4:20 p.m. local time. He said Mark Teixeira, the most prominent free agent remaining, has received contract offers from every team with interest …
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Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Mark Teixeira negotiations heating up — LAS VEGAS — The Yankees' imminent signing of free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia to a seven-year, $160-million deal would seem to take them out of the running for Mark Teixeira, but that will hardly ease the competition the Angels face in retaining the free-agent first baseman.
Discussion:
The Schmuck Stops Here, MLB Rumors, Oriole Central, Mets Merized Online, TEXAS RANGERS and Hot Stove Blog
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Burnett deciding between Yankees and Braves — LAS VEGAS - The Red Sox never seemed fully invested in talks for A.J. Burnett, so it should it come as no surprise that the competition for the pitcher now seems to have come down to two teams: the Yankees and Braves.
Jose Mota / Yahoo! Sports:
Nationals extend offer to Teixeira — Buzz up! — LAS VEGAS - The Washington Nationals have stepped boldly into the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, making an offer to the free agent first baseman for seven years and $150 million, a highly placed baseball source said Wednesday morning.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MetsBlog.com, MLB FanHouse, Nationals Journal, iYankees, Federal Baseball, PE.com, Hot Foot and LA Times Sports Blog
Yahoo! Sports:Opt-out clause key to Sabathia going to Yankees
Discussion:
Washington Post, ESPN, New York Post, NY Daily News, JSOnline, bronxbanterblog.com, River Avenue Blues, Baseball & The Boogie Down, New Jersey Online, Hardball, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Sabernomics, MLB Rumors, Sliding Into Home, NJ.com, Pinstripes, Pa., True Blue LA, The Bronx Block, It is about the money, stupid, Pinstriped Scranton, MY BASEBALL BIAS, YanksBlog.com, Can't Stop The Bleeding, MetsBlog.com, Baseball Insider and Scott Proctor's Arm
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Three-way deal could send Putz to Mets — Mariners and Indians also involved in trade talks — LAS VEGAS — The Mets, Mariners and Indians appear to be on the verge of a three-team deal in which J.J. Putz would go to New York as the setup man to the newly acquired Francisco Rodriguez.
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ESPN.com:
Mets get reliever Putz in 3-team, 12-player deal — LAS VEGAS — The New York Mets obtained J.J. Putz from Seattle on Wednesday night as part of a three-team, 12-player trade that gives them a set-up man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez. — New York dealt seven players …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, The Ballclub, The Daily Fungo, Mike Silva's NY Baseball … and Associated Press
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Mariners deal Putz in three-team trade — Seattle acquires Mets pitcher Heilman, three other players — LAS VEGAS — The Seattle Mariners have agreed to a deal to send right-handed closer J.J. Putz to the New York Mets on Wednesday night as part of a three-team, nine-player trade.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: Cubs dig in over Padres demands … LAS VEGAS — Jake Peavy to the Chicago Cubs. It was a trade that once seemed inevitable. — It doesn't seem so inevitable anymore. — As the clock ticked down toward the final hours before the two key principles, the Cubs and San Diego Padres …
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Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:Cubs inquire about Angels' Chone Figgins
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Scott Lauber / Phillies:
HERE'S THE DEAL: PHILS ACQUIRE CATCHER — LAS VEGAS — So, it seems the “small trade” mentioned by Ruben Amaro Jr. will be a swap of catchers. The Phils will send Class AAA catcher Jason Jaramillo to the Pirates for Ronny Paulino, a .278 hitter in parts of four seasons.
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Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates trade Paulino to Phillies for Jaramillo — LAS VEGAS — The Pirates tonight traded catcher Ronny Paulino to the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Jason Jaramillo. — Details to follow ... UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: Going to be brief here because I am up against the newspaper deadline.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Yanks offer fifth year to reel in Burnett … The New York Yankees, making a hard late charge to beat out the Atlanta Braves for A.J. Burnett, offered the free-agent right-hander a guaranteed five-year contract Wednesday, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
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Associated Press:
Rays send RHP Jackson to Tigers for OF Joyce — LAS VEGAS — The Tigers acquired right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday for outfielder Matt Joyce, Detroit's second trade in three days at the winter meetings. — Jackson is set to join a rotation alongside Justin Verlander …
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Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
BBWAA opens doors wider, admits four more Internet writers — Slowly but surely, the Baseball Writers Association of America is becoming more inclusive. The organization just held a meeting here at Bellagio and, for the second straight year, humbly voted to add a few Internet writers to their newspaper-dominated ranks.
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Christina Kahrl / Unfiltered:Baseball Prospectus and the BBWAA
Discussion:
Baseball Digest Daily Blog
Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Jeter on Sabathia; M's discuss Hermida with Marlins — UPDATE (3:14 p.m.): I'm now told it was the Mariners who actually approached the Marlins to ask about the availability of outfielder Jeremy Hermida, not the other way around. No doubt looking to see whether they can get him cheap.
Discussion:
Hot Stove Blog, Florida Marlins, MLB.com, Bleeding Blue and Teal, MLB Rumors, Rays Index and Major League Baseball
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For the Record:
QUOTE(#4): … what about last year BurghFan? — Capps went on the dl last year on July 2 with should bursitis and did not join the big club again until august 23, - essentially missing 2 months of the season, so get your facts straight on that. — he's also free agent after this season …
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Angry Sabean rails against media, questions Sabathia's interest — Giants General Manager Brian Sabean's face turned red and his voice built into a shout. He didn't hide his displeasure during a stunning session with four beat reporters in his Bellagio hotel suite.
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Smoltz's wish list includes Boston — LAS VEGAS — John Smoltz wants to pitch for a team that could take him to the World Series. — He hopes that's still the Atlanta Braves, the team for whom he has pitched since 1988, but the 41-year-old free agent is considering the Red Sox …
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press, MLB.com, MetsBlog.com, Boston Herald, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Fever and Hardball
