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:
The Bottom Line, New Jersey Online, Hardball Times, Rivera's Cutter, The Yankee Scrolls and A Red Sox Fan …
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JSOnline:
Cameron deal back on track — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Las Vegas - After a morning hiccup created by the Yankees' request for the Brewers to pick up some of centerfielder Mike Cameron's salary, the sides are back on track to complete a trade that would bring centerfielder Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee.
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.
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Yankees Consider Cameron for Cabrera Swap — LAS VEGAS - First thing Thursday morning, there was a report that the Yankees had found their center fielder in a straight-up swap of Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee for Mike Cameron. A couple of hours later, the picture is cloudy.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Rivera's Cutter, The Big Lead, Pinstripes, Pa. and River Avenue Blues
Kevin Baxter / LA Times Sports Blog:
Yankees get Mike Cameron; they're not done yet
Yankees get Mike Cameron; they're not done yet
Discussion:
Newsday
New York Post:
CASHMAN FLIES TO SEE PETTITTE — MESSAGE: ONE ROTATION SPOT LEFT FOR $10 MILLION — By JOEL SHERMAN IN LAS VEGAS and GEORGE A. KING III IN NEW YORK — LAS VEGAS — Brian Cashman again jetted away from the Winter Meetings to meet face-to-face with a lefty starter.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Cashman meets with Pettitte at pitcher's home — LAS VEGAS - Brian Cashman left the winter meetings early Thursday morning to meet with Andy Pettitte in the lefthander's Houston home, Newsday has confirmed. — The Yankees' general manager wants to give Pettitte one last chance to accept …
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees won't wait forever on Pettitte
Yankees won't wait forever on Pettitte
Discussion:
The Heater, NJ.com, Rays Index, Bugs & Cranks, New Jersey Online, MLB Rumors, Hot Foot, ESPN, Boston Globe, Projo Sox Blog and Blogging the Bombers
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 …
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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.
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
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Extra Baggs, Bless You Boys, El Lefty Malo, AZ Snakepit, Baseball Insider, Rays Index, Chop-n-Change and Nationals Journal
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Paul DePodesta / It Might Be Dangerous:
Rule V Draft — We just completed the Major League phase …
Rule V Draft — We just completed the Major League phase …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Yahoo! Sports:
Teixeira negotiations continue to escalate — Buzz up! — LAS VEGAS - The Mark Teixeira negotiations have put agent Scott Boras in a position he loves. Information about the amount of money and length of a deal offered to his client continually leaks out - some of it probably coming …
Discussion:
LA Times Sports Blog, Chicago Sun Times, Hot Stove Blog, Over the Monster and MLB Rumors
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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:
Associated Press, MLB Rumors, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … and Lookout Landing
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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, Bugs & Cranks, Detroit Free Press, The Heater and MLB Rumors
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Three-team blockbuster nets Mets Putz — Mariners and Indians involved in 12-player Meetings deal — LAS VEGAS — Omar Minaya described the three-team, 12-player behemoth best. — In discussing the Sultan of Swap that took place among his Mets and the Mariners and Indians …
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Bonnie Bernstein / ESPN:
Ex-Yankee Williams wants to play in WBC … Former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams has never retired. — And there may be a reason why. — ESPN's Bonnie Bernstein has learned Williams will fly to Puerto Rico next week to play winter ball with the hopes of representing Puerto Rico …
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Tendering Saito a ‘tough call’ for LA — Dodgers also waiting to hear word from shortstop Furcal — LAS VEGAS — The Dodgers don't know how long they must wait for Rafael Furcal to decide if he'll return as shortstop, but they'll know by Friday if closer Takashi Saito will be back.
Discussion:
Inside the Dodgers, Dodger Thoughts, Athletics Nation, True Blue LA, PE.com and LA Times Sports Blog
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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.
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Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Winter Meetings, Day 4: Pirates ‘very, very close’ …
Winter Meetings, Day 4: Pirates ‘very, very close’ …
Discussion:
Baseball America, whygavs.com, Raise the Jolly Roger!, Bucs Dugout, Pirate Revolution and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
This isn't what Braves planned — Las Vegas — There was a time when the Braves didn't have to worry about whether a player would waive a no-trade clause to come to Atlanta. A time when the Braves would go dollar-for-dollar with the Yankees or anyone else. A time when seemingly every pitcher wanted to be a Brave.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Tim Sullivan / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Club and closer still need each other, but can they mend the fences? — LAS VEGAS — The case for Trevor Hoffman is conditional. It is predicated on the departure of Jake Peavy and the return of peaceful coexistence to the Padres. — Baseball's career saves leader has some fences to mend …
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Craig Calcaterra / Hardball Times:
Cole Hamels Meets Talk Radio — I'm not usually a fan of trash talk, accusations of overratedness, or discussions that center around the word “choke.” But with just about every important baseball figure on an airplane heading home from Las Vegas this afternoon, it's a slow news day …
Discussion:
ESPN, Staten Island Advance, The Musings and Prophecies …, crashburnalley.com, Kranepool Society and MLB FanHouse