Top News:
NY Daily News:
Yanks taking Randy offers — Padres make best pitch yet — Randy Johnson's rocky stay in New York may be ending after two seasons. — The Yankees are talking to several clubs about possibly trading Johnson and are inclined to make a deal, according to baseball officials.
RELATED:
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN.com:
Official: Diamondbacks, Yankees talking Unit trade … In the past week the Arizona Diamondbacks have offered a package of players to the New York Yankees in exchange for Randy Johnson, a baseball official said. — In need of starting pitching — and a marquee name that will draw more fans …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Trade Rumors, Hot Foot, YanksBlog.com, Sports Frog, Yanksfan vs Soxfan and MLB Rumors
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Yankees: Talking with Diamondbacks about Johnson deal — The Yankees are in discussions with the Arizona Diamondbacks about sending Randy Johnson back to the team for which he starred in 1999-2004, according to a baseball official. — The official, who works for a third team but has spoken …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Purple Row, Off the Facade, AZ Snakepit, 6-4-2 and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Yankees Explore a Trade to Send Johnson Home — Randy Johnson is 43 and coming off back surgery and two uneven seasons in New York. He does not have much time left to add to his legacy, and if he does, he may not end up doing it as a Yankee. That is because the Yankees appear open …
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres rumored in mix for Big Unit — Yankees trying to trade Johnson before bidding for Zito or Clemens — Randy Johnson wants to be closer to home. — And the Yankees apparently wouldn't mind ridding themselves of his $16 million salary for 2007 in an effort to sign Barry Zito or Roger Clemens, both free-agent pitchers.
Sports Illustrated:
Exit stage left? — Yankees dangling Johnson, may join Zito sweepstakes — If they can pull off the blockbuster trade they're talking about, the New York Yankees could replace one star left-hander with another. — Randy Johnson is available, and the Yankees have begun trade talks …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers reach agreement with Suppan — Christmas came a day early for the Milwaukee Brewers. — The Brewers reached agreement today with free agent right-hander Jeff Suppan on a four-year deal with a club option worth $42 million. A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed the agreement …
RELATED:
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Sox swap potential for potential — McCarthy, groomed for starting job, traded to Rangers for lefty Danks — Even with the news during the winter meetings that the White Sox had traded veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia, starting pitcher-in-waiting Brandon McCarthy was skeptical.
RELATED:
Alex Carnevale / Baseball Prospectus:
The Week In Quotes — December 19-26 … —MLB commissioner Bud Selig, recipient of Street and Smith's award for Executive of the Year. … —Selig, on the World Baseball Classic. (Jack O'Connell, MLB.com) … —Abraham Madkour, executive editor of both SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.
Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:Trade-happy GM butchers rotation by dealing McCarthy
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Stan Grossfeld / Boston Globe:
Heartfelt gesture — Ortiz helps establish cardiac unit for children in Dominican Republic — SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic — Last January, David Ortiz was preparing for the 2006 baseball season in his hometown of Santo Domingo. Unlike previous seasons …
Jeff Albert / Baseball Analysts:
Selection by Swing — The draft is a crapshoot, right? Maybe so. Honestly, I don't know, because I've never been in position to make decisions on drafting players. There are countless things to consider, all with the purpose of determining which players are most likely to make it to the big leagues.
Chicago Tribune:
Damon commissioner of new online league — SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon has announced formation of the Professional Baseball Video Game League, in which some of baseball's best players will battle each other and their fans online.
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Parker gave his all, awaits Hall's call — NL MVP, two-time batting champ's stats affected by injuries — There was a time during the late 1970s when Dave Parker was arguably the best player in baseball, and he seemed destined to one day be immortalized in the hallowed halls of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Chris Jenkins / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Comfort zone — "You have to feel it in your gut. And when it happens, you have to feel like you're all in. This opportunity with the Padres felt that way." — Before he ever was known professionally as a left-hander, his job title was "seventh hand."
