Top News:
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Source: No offers from Yanks to Manny, Teixeira — Speculation to the contrary, the Yankees are not “all in” on Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira. — The Yankees have not ruled out adding Ramirez or Teixeira, but they have yet to make an offer to either slugger.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
No Cameron may open door for Manny — Tired of waiting for the Yankees to make a move, the Brewers killed the proposed deal for Mike Cameron Wednesday, leaving a gaping hole in center field in the Bronx. — Could that hole be filled indirectly by Manny Ramirez? Only time will tell.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Melvin: Cameron-Yanks deal is ‘dead’ — Brewers GM uncertain if he'd be interested if talks were to resume — MILWAUKEE — As Brewers general manager Doug Melvin sees it, his trade talks with the Yankees are “dead.” — “It's probably not going to happen,” Melvin said.
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Cameron-Cabrera talks off
Cameron-Cabrera talks off
Discussion:
iYankees, New Jersey Online, The Chuck Knoblog, Baseball & The Boogie Down, The Yankees and Scott Proctor's Arm
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers, Furcal agree on 3-year deal — Physical all that stands in way of shortstop staying in Los Angeles — LOS ANGELES — The winding road of free agency has led shortstop Rafael Furcal right back to the Dodgers. — A baseball official confirmed Wednesday that Furcal has reached agreement …
Discussion:
Sabernomics, Yahoo! Sports, The Knobler Blog, Dodger Thoughts, MLB Rumors, Inside the Dodgers and True Blue LA
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Furcal says no to Braves, returns to Dodgers
Furcal says no to Braves, returns to Dodgers
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
General feeling is Sox — They're perceived leaders on Teixeira — One of the general managers involved in the Mark Teixeira negotiations was asked last night, “Are you still in it?” He answered, “I honestly don't know.” — Evidently, Teixeira's final landing spot has become a mystery to some of the people involved.
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Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Red Sox, Youkilis talk deal — The Red Sox and infielder Kevin Youkilis have taken initial steps toward a possible long-term contract extension, said Joe Bick, the agent who represents Youkilis. — “We've had some what I would term early-stage conversations,” Bick said. “That's really where it is.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Associated Press:
Dave Smith remembered for generosity — SAN DIEGO — Dave Smith, a former All-Star closer who holds the Houston Astros record for games pitched, died Wednesday. He was 53. — Former big leaguer Tim Flannery said Smith apparently died of a heart attack, but the official cause of death wasn't known.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Former Astro Smith dies of heart attack — Two-time All-Star reliever was on three Houston playoff teams — HOUSTON — Dave Smith, an Astros reliever from 1980-90 and a member of all three Houston playoff teams in the 1980s, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 53.
Nick Willhite / Los Angeles Times:
Nick Willhite dies at 67; former pitcher for the Dodgers and Angels — Pitcher for Dodgers — Nick Willhite, 67, a left-handed pitcher whose five-year baseball career was highlighted by the shutout he threw in his debut with the Dodgers in 1963, died of cancer Sunday at a son's home in Alpine, Utah.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Jenks reacts to trade rumors, critics — Dip in velocity by design, not injury says White Sox closer — CHICAGO — Firing the baseball at 100 mph past opposing hitters' feeble attempts to make contact once stood as a trademark of Bobby Jenks' pitching repertoire upon arriving in the Majors.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Mets Are ‘Not for Sale, Not a Piece of It’ — After the Mets introduced Francisco Rodríguez as their $37 million closer Wednesday, team executives posed for pictures with him. Jeff Wilpon, the chief operating officer, smiled for the cameras. He has not done much of that lately.
Discussion:
Brooklyn Met Fan
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Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Sabathia visits new Yankee Stadium — The Yankees have passed along these photos of new pitcher CC Sabathia touring the new Yankee Stadium.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Towers is assessing potential options to shore up team's middle infield — Veteran middle infielders Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein and Mark Grudzielanek are on the Padres' radar to varying degrees, General Manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday, but it's still early.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Agent says Tigers have called about reliever Derrick Turnbow — The agent for reliever Derrick Turnbow said interest in his client has increased since last week's winter meetings. And the Tigers have had something to do with that. — Damon Lapa said Wednesday that a Tigers official called …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors