Top News:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Sources: Yankees to trade Melky for Cameron — The Yankees have found their center fielder for 2009, as they are set to send Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee for veteran outfielder Mike Cameron on Thursday, according to two major league sources. — The Yankees have been saying that Cabrera …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Hardball Times, The Bottom Line, Rivera's Cutter and The Yankee Scrolls
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
YANKS OFFER CABRERA FOR MIKE CAMERON — LAS VEGAS - CC Sabathia was not enough. Now the Yankees are zeroing in on adding his pal Mike Cameron, as well. — The Yankees would trade at least Melky Cabrera to obtain Cameron, a speedy, defensively elite center fielder who hits homers, but strikes out at a high rate.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Bluebird Banter, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Sliding Into Home and Scott Proctor's Arm
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Cameron could join CC in NY — Yankees will reportedly trade Melky to Milwaukee for vet — LAS VEGAS — CC Sabathia might have a familiar face joining him in the Bronx — former Brewers teammate Mike Cameron. — Multiple Major League sources told MLB.com early Thursday that the Brewers …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Mike Cameron Yankees Deal Unlikely? — By Tim Dierkes [December 11 at 1:01pm CST] — 1:01pm: Cameron's agent told Tyler Kepner nothing has been completed. Kepner says the Brewers have actually been asking about Igawa. — 11:49am: Joel Sherman talked to a top exec involved in the talks who called the chances of a deal “remote.”
Discussion:
Bats, JSOnline, Pinstripes, Pa., iYankees, umpbump.com, Pinstriped Scranton, The Bronx Block and It is about the money, stupid
Keith Law / ESPN:
Putz fills the Mets' eighth-inning void — If the Mets get the healthy J.J. Putz — he missed time with rib and elbow injuries in 2008 — they might actually have acquired the best closer of their offseason, one even better than their new capital-C closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, FanGraphs Baseball, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Minor League Blog, Hardball Times and Let's Go Tribe!
RELATED:
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft Pick By Pick — Major League Phase — First Round — 1. Nationals — Terrell Young, rhp, Reds — 2. Mariners — Reggie Corona, ss/2b, Yankees — 3. Padres — Everth Cabrera, ss/2b, Rockies — 4. Pirates — Donald Veal, lhp, Cubs — *5. Orioles
RELATED:
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Gems can be unearthed in Rule 5 Draft — Cubs' Veal, Tribe's Lofgren among players available Thursday — LAS VEGAS — To get an idea of just how much of a shot in the dark the Rule 5 Draft is, take a look at the past two years. — Last year, the Major League phase produced no great impact-type players.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Abreu's representatives meet with Rays — Club continues to pursue sluggers at annual Winter Meetings — LAS VEGAS — Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed meeting with free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu's representatives on Wednesday …
Boston Herald:
Scott Boras: Jason Varitek has offer to return — LAS VEGAS - The Red Sox [team stats] have presented a contract offer to Jason Varitek [stats], said agent Scott Boras yesterday at the winter meetings. The deal is believed to be for two years, although the terms remain under wraps.
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
No offer to Varitek — LAS VEGAS — Except for the “offer” of arbitration, which he declined, free agent catcher Jason Varitek has not received a contractual offer from the Red Sox, a source familiar with the talks said. — Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, had been asked at a press briefing Wednesday …
Hot Stove Blog:
Peavy deal to Cubs dead — LAS VEGAS — San Diego general manager Kevin Towers just told reporters that a proposed deal to send pitcher Jake Peavy to the Chicago Cubs was dead. — “It doesn't look like anything is going to happen with the Cubs,” Towers said. — Towers indicated that Cubs GM Jim Hendry pulled out of the deal.
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' budget has room for Peavy trade and left-handed hitter — Losing DeRosa, Marquis would open up millions — LAS VEGAS — It isn't easy being Jim Hendry, but it's sure fun to try. — And truth be told, any fan with a calculator, a computer and Internet service can try to figure …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees won't wait forever on Pettitte — LAS VEGAS - The Yankees have made it clear that they would welcome Andy Pettitte back to the Bronx next year. How long that remains the case, however, remains to be seen. — While Pettitte remains on the Yankees' radar, a source told the Daily News …
Discussion:
The Heater, Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, NJ.com, Rays Index, New Jersey Online, ESPN, Bugs & Cranks, Hot Foot and Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Sources: Pirates, infielder Vazquez close to deal … The Pittsburgh Pirates are close to an agreement on a two-year, $4 million deal with free-agent infielder Ramon Vazquez, two baseball sources told ESPN.com. — Pirates general manager Neal Huntington declined to address terms but said a deal could be reached shortly.
RELATED:
Joe Christensen / Around the Majors:
Twins re-sign Punto to two-year, $8.5 million deal with option for 2011 — The Twins have re-signed free agent Nick Punto to a two-year contract with an option for 2011. La Velle has more details from Las Vegas. — “Nick has been an important part of the Twins' success for the past five years …
Discussion:
ESPN, Associated Press, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, MLB Rumors and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Focus is firmly on Fuentes — LAS VEGAS — As the availability of proven closers narrows, the Cardinals now classify free-agent lefthander Brian Fuentes their “No. 1 priority,” manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday. — Though general manager John Mozeliak denied having extended a formal offer to Fuentes …
RELATED:
Tim Sullivan / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Club and closer still need each other, but can they mend the fences?
Club and closer still need each other, but can they mend the fences?
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
The Professor / Rays Index:
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Look At What The Edwin Jackson Trade Means For The Rays — The One Where We Look At What The Edwin Jackson Trade Means For The Rays — Last night the Rays acquired outfielder Matt Joyce from the Detroit Tigers for Edwin Jackson. — What this trade means for the rotation...
Discussion:
Baseball America, Baseball Musings, Detroit Free Press, Bugs & Cranks, MLB Rumors and The Heater