Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals boost offer to Pujols — Image — DALLAS • The Cardinals rejoined the fray for free agent first baseman Albert Pujols on Tuesday by offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed to potentially approach $220 million for up to 10 years. — Now they wait to see if it's enough.
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, Full Count, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Eye on Baseball and NESN.com
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Albert Pujols mulls 3 offers: Cardinals, Marlins, and 1 more — DALLAS — Marquee free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols, fueling the most lucrative bidding war in baseball history, obtained three 10-year contract proposals Tuesday that would pay him in excess of $200 million, an official close to the negotiations told USA TODAY.
Discussion:
MLB, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, Baseball Nation, Full Count and NESN.com
Fox Sports:
Angels pursuing Pujols, too — Rosenthal: Angels in play for Pujols, too — DALLAS — After landing shortstop Jose Reyes, the Miami Marlins progressed toward an even bigger free-agent splash by offering a 10-year contract to slugger Albert Pujols on Tuesday. The offer to Pujols is valued at more than $200 million.
Discussion:
Angels blog and Halos Heaven
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Pujols delays decision, talks resume Wednesday
Discussion:
Miami Marlins, ESPN and ESPN
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Lohse hasn't been approached about trade
Discussion:
Dave Hyde, MiamiHerald.com, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Chicago Tribune
David Villavicencio / Inside Sports …:
Albert Pujols to join Miami Marlins
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and HardballTalk
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Mets Agree To Two-Year Deal With Francisco — The Mets appear determined to fill out their entire bullpen before the night is out. The team has agreed to a two-year deal with Frank Francisco, pending a physical, tweets Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Francisco is the third reliever the Mets …
Discussion:
CloserNews, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Eye on Baseball and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets sign Jon Rauch to one-year deal — According to Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio, the Mets have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with RHP Jon Rauch. — Duquette says the deal is pending a physical and it's for $3.5 million plus performance bonuses. Rauch earned $3.75 million with the Blue Jays last season.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports and The LoHud Mets Blog
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Mets sign Frank Francisco to a 2-year, $12 M Deal
Discussion:
Tedquarters
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Giants Acquire Pagan From Mets For Torres, Ramirez
Discussion:
Mike Silva's … and MLB Daily Dish
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Case is far from closed in bullpen — DALLAS - The White Sox tried to gauge the Red Sox' interest in right fielder Carlos Quentin, which for the moment is lukewarm, but during those discussions, Sergio Santos's name never came up. — Red Sox evaluators love Santos's stuff …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
RELATED:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Papi to accept Boston's arbitration offer — DALLAS — Designated hitter David Ortiz plans to accept the offer of salary arbitration that the Red Sox extended to him, meaning that he will return to Boston for the 2012 season, a source told ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com on Tuesday.
Discussion:
joy of sox, WEEI, NESN.com and MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Day of decision arrives for Ortiz
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and MLB
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
David Ortiz Plans To Accept Arbitration
Discussion:
Over the Monster, River Avenue Blues and Full Count
ESPN:
Red Sox source: David Ortiz will be back
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk and Over the Monster
Fox Sports:
A's Gonzalez hottest lefty at meetings — DALLAS — The left-handed pitcher most in demand at the winter meetings is not either of the top free agents, C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle. — No, the lefty generating the most attention is the Athletics' Gio Gonzalez, who is attracting trade interest …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Phillies Nation, Philliesflow.com and HardballTalk
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Yankees should trade Jesus Monetro to Oakland A's for Gio Gonzalez, a young up and coming left-hander — Gonzalez has the makeup to transform Yankees — Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero proves he belongs in the Big Leagues in 2011, but can he help bring the Bombers closer to the World Series than Gio Gonzalez (below).
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and Pinstripe Alley
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
BREAKING: Giants trade OF Andres Torres and RHP Ramon Ramirez to the Mets for OF Angel Pagan — In a classic swap of players coming off disappointing seasons, the Giants acquired outfielder and leadoff man Angel Pagan from the New York Mets in exchange for center fielder Andres Torres and right-hander Ramon Ramirez Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Wahoo's on First
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Trying To Trade Keppinger, Torres, Ramirez
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, McCovey Chronicles, Extra Baggs, baseballmusings.com and Al's Ramblings
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB agreement says Frank McCourt must sell Dodgers by end of April — McCourt's sale agreement with Major League Baseball allows him to decide whether he will sell the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium. Initial bids for the team and stadium are due Jan. 13.
RELATED:
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Among Potential Dodgers' Bidders, Magic Johnson Brings More Than Name Recognition
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees trying to trade Burnett — DALLAS — The Yankees have inserted A.J. Burnett into the trade market at the Winter Meetings, The Post has learned. — According to multiple teams, the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for Burnett and are willing to pay $8 million …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Jean-Jacques Taylor / ESPN:
Josh Hamilton would like extension … GARLAND, Texas — Josh Hamilton, entering the final year of a two-year, $24 million deal he signed before last season, said he'd like to get a deal done with the Texas Rangers on a contract extension before the season starts.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, MLB Rumors and Full Count
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers a ‘favorite’ for Ramirez — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Dallas - I just spoke with Paul Kinzer, the agent for third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who told me he considers the Brewers “a favorite” to sign his free-agent client. — Kinzer, who has met with the Brewers …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: Placido Polanco not on block
Discussion:
Brotherly Glove, MLB Rumors, MLive.com and Phillies Nation
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Coy Antonetti hints at surprising deal in works — Indians' deep bullpen could make closer Perez trade candidate — DALLAS — It would probably take a lot to stun Indians fans these days. Only four months ago, Cleveland traded away its top two pitching prospects to land starter Ubaldo Jimenez …
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, Wahoo's on First and MLB Rumors
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs closing in on deal with Overbay — DALLAS — It was an extremely slow day for the D-backs on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. — Arizona heard back from free-agent first baseman Lyle Overbay on their one-year contract offer, but it wasn't a yes or no. Still, it seems like the deal will get done.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
