Top News:
New York Post:
YANK: A.J. IS BURN-ING FOR BOMBERS — Talking to a Yankee recently, A.J. Burnett informed the player they were going to be teammates. — “He wants to come to New York - those words came out of his mouth,” the player told The Post last night. “He really wants to play here.”
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Bronx or Atlanta likely home for Burnett
Bronx or Atlanta likely home for Burnett
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Baseball & The Boogie Down, New Jersey Online, iYankees and Newsday
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Task at hand: Acquiring a closer — LAS VEGAS — Within the past week, the Tigers traded for a starting catcher (Gerald Laird) and added a pitcher (Edwin Jackson) they believe will help settle their rotation. — They should announce the signing of shortstop Adam Everett any day.
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Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
Nationals Actively Seeking Bullpen Help — Let's take a time-out from our 24-7 Mark Teixeira Watch to visit another area where the Nationals are looking for a big upgrade — the back end of their bullpen. Terrell Young, the 24-year-old right-hander they took in the Rule 5 Draft yesterday, was only a start.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
St. Louis Cardinals were ‘kicking tires’ at baseball's winter meetings
St. Louis Cardinals were ‘kicking tires’ at baseball's winter meetings
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Ibanez, Phillies agree to 3-year, $30M deal — The Phillies have agreed to a three-year contract with free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, pending a physical. The deal is believed to be worth $30 million over three years. — The 36-year-old Ibanez will become the Phillies' new every-day leftfielder …
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals designate Jason Smith to clear space for Horacio Ramirez — The Royals designated utility infielder Jason Smith for assignment Friday to clear space on their 40-man roster for left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez. — Smith, 31, spent the first four month of last season at Class AAA Omaha …
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Farnsworth, Royals reach preliminary agreement
Farnsworth, Royals reach preliminary agreement
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Peavy just wasn't a necessity — Righty would've made Cubs better, but price was too high for Hendry — LAS VEGAS — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry walked out of the Bellagio on Thursday essentially empty-handed. No big left-handed bat. No new leadoff hitter. No Jake Peavy.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Betemit, Wise agree to one-year deals — Infielder, outfielder avoid arbitration; Jenks next on Sox list — CHICAGO — Bobby Jenks now stands as the lone remaining arbitration-eligible player on the White Sox 40-man roster, after outfielder DeWayne Wise and infielder Wilson Betemit agreed to one-year deals on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Time for Blue Jays to trade Roy Halladay — LAS VEGAS-It's a tough, tough decision to make, but the time has come for the Jays to trade Roy Halladay to a contending club and get a combination package of ready-for-prime-time and future players. The current market shows that there are clubs …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Ranking the moves at the winter meetings (Nos. 1-5) … Twenty-five players changed teams in the significant deals and free-agent signings at this year's winter meetings in Las Vegas. Here's a look at their relative values over the next five seasons (2009-2013), without considering salaries or contract situations:
Discussion:
Hot Foot
JSOnline:
Brewers — Preparing for departure — Details of the deal being worked out — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Las Vegas - After an unexpected morning hiccup in negotiations, talks were back on track later Thursday for a trade that will send Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Mike Cameron …
Kyle Boddy / Driveline Mechanics:
Pitching Mechanics: Homer Bailey (By Request) — #34 / Pitcher / Cincinnati Reds … Reader justin007000 wanted to know what's up with Homer Bailey and why he just can't hack it anymore. His minor league stats are pretty good, but his major league ones look like this: — W-L ERA WHIP K BB
Discussion:
Dunn and Dunner
Patrick Sullivan / Baseball Analysts:
Shaughnessy At It Again — Every year as the Hall-of-Fame vote nears, the debates over certain players intensify. As part of this tradition over the last few years, you can set your watch to a Dan Shaughnessy mail-in supporting the candidacy of Jim Rice. Shaughnessy's case for Rice and …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Rob Bradford / WEEI Blogs:
Mets eyeing Cora — LAS VEGAS — While exiting the Bellagio Hotel, and Baseball Winter Meetings, came across one final nugget ... With the Twins' re-signing of Nick Punto, the Mets are targeting Alex Cora to replace Damian Easley as a middle infielder. Cora is now a free agent after having …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Phils' Hamels fires a salvo at Mets — NEW YORK — The on-field behavior of the Mets, particularly that of Jose Reyes, again has been called into question by an opposing player, this time by World Series MVP Cole Hamels. — In response to questions asked during an interview on radio station WFAN …
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles not planning to increase offer to Teixeira — MacPhail says club still in running for free-agent slugger — LAS VEGAS - Orioles officials left the Bellagio Hotel this afternoon still feeling they have a shot at signing prized free agent Mark Teixeira, though all signs continue to point to their having to overcome long odds.
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