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 …
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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, The Big Lead, Pinstripes, Pa., Rivera's Cutter and River Avenue Blues
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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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, MLB Rumors, New Jersey Online, Hot Foot, ESPN, Blogging the Bombers and Projo Sox Blog
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Cashman meets with Pettitte at pitcher's home
Cashman meets with Pettitte at pitcher's home
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …
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, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … and Lookout Landing
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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, Bucs Dugout, whygavs.com, Raise the Jolly Roger!, Pirate Revolution and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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 …
Discussion:
WEEI Blogs, SOX & Dawgs, The Bottom Line, MLB.com, MLB Rumors, Center Field and Boston Herald
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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 …
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J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft Pick By Pick — Major League Phase — First Round — 1. Nationals — Terrell Young, rhp, Reds — 2. Mariners — Reegie Corona, ss/2b, Yankees — 3. Padres — Everth Cabrera, ss/2b, Rockies — 4. Pirates — Donald Veal, lhp, Cubs — *5. Orioles
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Bless You Boys, Extra Baggs, 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
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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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...
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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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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox unveil ‘retro roadies’ — Look for 2009 primary, alternate road jerseys full of tradition — The Red Sox will have a new look to them going forward, particularly on the road. At a news conference on Thursday night in Boston, the tradition-laden franchise unveiled new primary and alternate road jerseys for 2009.
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, Athletics Nation, Dodger Thoughts, True Blue LA, PE.com and LA Times Sports Blog
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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:
Staten Island Advance, ESPN, crashburnalley.com, The Musings and Prophecies …, Kranepool Society and MLB FanHouse
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft Selections With Analysis — Major League Phase — First Round — Skinny: Mississippi prep product always has had arm strength, but improved control and changeup in '08. — 2. Mariners — Reegie Corona, ss/2b, Yankees — Skinny: Versatile middle infielder …
Discussion:
6-4-2
The Knobler Blog:
Tigers probably won't add a closer — LAS VEGAS — The Tigers tried for Kerry Wood, and they believe they would have gotten J.J. Putz if the Mets hadn't stepped in at the last minute with a better offer. — Now, people familiar with the Tiger plans say, getting a new closer is no longer a priority.
Associated Press:
Betemit agrees to one-year deal with White Sox — CHICAGO — Infielder Wilson Betemit and the Chicago White Sox agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. — Betemit was acquired from New York last month in the trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees.