Top News:
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 …
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs may go after Milton Bradley — Veteran can handle all 3 outfield positions — LAS VEGAS - Now that the Cubs have moved on from the Jake Peavy saga, general manager Jim Hendry turns his focus on what was supposed to be his main objective of the winter meetings.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Burnett, Yankees agree on deal … Free agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has reached preliminary agreement on a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the New York Yankees, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — While Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Burnett's agent …
RELATED:
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.”
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
YANKEES, BRAVES EVEN ON BURNETT — FIVE-YEAR, $80 MILLION DEALS ON TABLE — The Yankees and Braves are essentially in financial flat-footed tie in trying to land A.J. Burnett. Both have offered five years. The Yankees' total package is just beyond $80 million. Atlanta has reached at least $80 million.
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.
RELATED:
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
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Will Madoff Scandal Hurt The New York Mets? (Update) — The real estate investment firm Sterling Equities, co-founded by New York Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, had money invested with Bernard Madoff's firm, CNBC has confirmed. — “Among our various investments …
RELATED:
Greg B. Smith / NY Daily News:Mets owner Fred Wilpon may have been big loser in Bernard Madoff's …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Viciedo's four-year pact finalized — White Sox willing to take time to work impact Cuban into mix — CHICAGO — The trades of Nick Swisher and Javier Vazquez reaped another benefit in Chicago on Friday, as the White Sox officially announced the signing of free agent third baseman Dayan Viciedo.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:Farnsworth, Royals reach preliminary agreement
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
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 …
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 …
Tom Hoffarth / L.A. Daily News:
Dodger do some TV repair work for '09: Steiner back on radio fulltime; gig opens for 40-game slate — Read into this however you may, but the Dodgers have decided that having a consistent radio broadcast team means Charley Steiner won't be doing any TV work during the 2009 season.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Heilman moving on with no regrets — Right-hander looking forward to the new opportunity in Seattle — NEW YORK — He had asked for this, in a way. Aaron Heilman had presented the Mets with an ultimatum, delivered with a “Please.” When he said “Start me or trade me,” …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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 …
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:
Jack Magruder / East Valley Tribune:
Lopez passes physical, signs with D-Backs — Felipe Lopez is officially a Diamondback. — Lopez passed his physical exam, the final step before executing a one-year, $3.5 million contract to replace Orlando Hudson as the D-Backs' second baseman. — Lopez, 28, is to speak to the media later today.
