Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets' General Manager Leaves Florida Happy — ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 7 For some reason, the e-mail service on Omar Minaya's Blackberry does not work in the Dominican Republic, so he will be forced to communicate the old-fashioned way over the next five days.
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
RELATED:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Omar arm's length away from deals — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The lobby of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort was relatively empty on the final day of baseball's winter meetings. The last event was the RuleV draft yesterday morning, and it didn't take long for team officials …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Chicago Tribune:
Winter meeting whispers — While the Jon Garland-to-Astros trade could be revived, there was relief on both sides when it fell through Thursday morning. The White Sox seemed pleased for the time to reassess their options, and the Astros were hopeful the threat of Garland filling his spot …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Lots of chatter, no sign for Rangers — Club leaves winter meetings without acquiring a top name — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rangers talked an awful lot with agents for Barry Zito, Jay Payton and Kenny Lofton at the winter meetings. They talked to every club in the big leagues about potential pitching trades.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies' options are stand pat or deal — Colorado likes team, but trading Jennings remains a possibility — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rockies feel they are in a position to win. — Now comes the challenge - proving it. — The Rockies departed the annual winter meetings Thursday afternoon having …
Discussion:
Dan Agonistes
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers making backup plans if Zito balks — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rangers spent the final day of the winter meetings in a holding pattern, more or less. — They still have their eye on landing lefty Barry Zito. They still don't dare to get their hopes too high about that happening …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Talk of Misconduct Is Swirling Around Red Sox — The Boston Red Sox might think of the Yankees as the Evil Empire, but other people in baseball now seem to view the Red Sox as a team that feels it can operate outside the rules. — According to executives of several clubs …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog, Extra Bases, The GYS Network, Bronx Banter, WasWatching.com, 6-4-2 and Yanksfan vs Soxfan
RELATED:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Bonds, Giants agree on one-year deal — Slugger, 21 homers shy of Aaron, set to re-sign for $16 million — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Giants agreed in principle on Thursday to re-sign slugger Barry Bonds for the 2007 season, said a source with knowledge of the negotiations.
RELATED:
Joe Posnanski / Kansas City Star:
Sometimes, madness is appropriate — Yes, at first glance, it seems a little — what's the word here? — let us say "surprising" that the Royals gave pitcher Gil Meche a five-year, $55 million deal. However, upon closer inspection, it seems clear that ... OK, whoa, whoa, let's slow down a little bit.
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:Royals appear close to one-year deal with Dotel
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Rule 5 yields Labandeira, 2 other picks — Infielder was suspended for amphetamines — · The Marlins opted to spare somebody the burden of living up to Dan Uggla's Rule 5 legacy. — Thursday's Winter Meetings-culminating Rule 5 Draft was over in less than 40 minutes and did not feature …
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:No deals, but Marlins believe progress was made
Discussion:
FishStripes
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ohka offered Major League contract — Right-hander will begin second stint with club if he agrees — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Nationals have offered free agent Tomo Ohka a Major League contract, MLB.com has learned. If he agrees to the deal, Ohka will begin his second stint with the organization.
RELATED:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:No Major Moves, Two Minor Ones
Discussion:
MLB.com, Nationals Farm Authority, District of Baseball, William F. Yurasko and Ben Maller's Sports …
Childs Walker / Baltimore Sun:
O's video picture getting fuzzier … The Maryland Stadium Authority agreed yesterday to move forward with the purchase of a new Mitsubishi video screen for Camden Yards despite objections from the Orioles. — Orioles officials say the DiamondVision screen is too small and technologically inadequate …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano delay could be costly — He's on track to be top '08 free agent — ORLANDO — While St. Louis handed Chris Carpenter to a three-year extension Monday on the first day of the winter meetings, expecting he would be their ace through 2011, the Cubs concentrated on solidifying their starting rotation.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Sports Illustrated:
Cashman to A-Rod: 'We love you' — GM meets with slugger's agent to express support — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent a strong message to Alex Rodriguez in a long dinner meeting Wednesday night with agent Scott Boras: "We love you, and you're not going anywhere.''
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Villone declines Yanks' arbitration offer — Reliever wants to play in New York, but keeping options open — NEW YORK — Ron Villone declined the Yankees' arbitration offer Thursday, leaving the left-hander available on the free-agent market. — Villone, who returned Thursday from a 12 …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Bavasi: Meetings 'miserable' — No big deals for Mariners as winter confab ends — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When the Mariners packed up and left the Land of the Mouse on Thursday, they didn't need the extra bag they'd brought along to pack the souvenirs they were planning to lug back to Seattle.
