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.
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Sources: Marlins want pitching if Pujols says no — DALLAS — Even as Albert Pujols continued to mull 10-year contract offers from the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Miami was working aggressively on a Plan B in case Pujols heads back to St. Louis.
Discussion:
MLB, HardballTalk, NESN.com and ESPN
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
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:
Baseball Prospectus, Viva El Birdos, MLB, Getting Blanked, Minor League Ball, HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, Baseball Nation, Full Count and NESN.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Pujols delays decision, talks resume Wednesday
Discussion:
Miami Marlins and ESPN
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Lohse hasn't been approached about trade
Discussion:
Dave Hyde, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, MiamiHerald.com and Chicago Tribune
David Villavicencio / Inside Sports …:
Albert Pujols to join Miami Marlins
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and HardballTalk
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 …
RELATED:
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:
Oakland Athletics, Major Lee-ague, Federal Baseball, Phillies Nation, MLB Rumors, Philliesflow.com, Baseball Nation and HardballTalk
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
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, MLB Daily Dish, Getting Blanked and NESN.com
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Day of decision arrives for Ortiz
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo! Sports and MLB
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Papi to accept Boston's arbitration offer
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, joy of sox and NESN.com
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
David Ortiz Plans To Accept Arbitration
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Over the Monster, River Avenue Blues, Full Count and WEEI
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 Nation, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, The LoHud Mets Blog and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets sign Jon Rauch to one-year deal
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:
Amazin' Avenue and Tedquarters
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Giants Acquire Pagan From Mets For Torres, Ramirez
Discussion:
Mike Silva's … and MLB Daily Dish
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Will the Mets trade David Wright? — Look, at this point, it's fairly obvious that Jose Reyes did not get traded last summer because he and his batting title were the team's only chance of selling tickets in September. Similarly, there is no way the Mets can deal David Wright now (nor should they).
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Photo: Jose Reyes in a Marlins hat, thanks the Mets
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Pirates To Sign Erik Bedard — The Pirates have agreed to sign lefty Erik Bedard, MLBTR has confirmed. Canadian journalist Marc Brassard first tweeted news of an impending $4.5MM deal. Bedard is represented by SFX. — Bedard, 32, is coming off his healthiest season since 2007.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, HardballTalk, Getting Blanked, Baseball Nation, THE BOOK, Pirates Prospects and Where Have You Gone …
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
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, HardballTalk, Full Count and MLB Rumors
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:
McCovey Chronicles and Wahoo's on First
RELATED:
MLB.com:
McCarver wins Frick Award for broadcasting — Longtime catcher a mainstay on national TV, in postseason — Tim McCarver, who has been a national analyst on television networks for three decades and simultaneously shined as part of broadcast teams with four big league clubs …
Discussion:
MiamiHerald.com and baseballmusings.com
