Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Phils get ex-Astros closer Lidge in 5-player deal — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired reliever Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros in a five-player trade on Wednesday night. — The Phillies sent outfielder Michael Bourn, pitcher Geoff Geary and minor leaguer Mike Costanzo to Houston …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Dugout Central, The700Level.com, Mets Fever, The Good Phight, Hot Foot and baseballreflections.com
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Phillies acquire Lidge in 5-player trade — ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies became the first team to make a big move at the general managers' meetings, acquiring closer Brad Lidge from Houston along with infielder Eric Bruntlett on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
MLB Columnists
MLB.com:
Phillies acquire Lidge from Houston — Righthander Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett were acquired by the Phillies from Houston in exchange for outfielder Michael Bourn, righthander Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo, Senior Vice President & General Manager Pat Gillick announced tonight.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
blogs.chron.com:
Clemens, the pitcher, may now really be done — For the first time since he signed with the Astros in January 2004, future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens will inform the Astros today that he intends to start a season working under his post-retirement, personal services agreement.
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ESPN.com:
Clemens to work for Astros, may be done playing — ORLANDO, Fla. — Roger Clemens is ready to join the Houston Astros — as a consultant. — In a sign that Clemens' pitching career could be over, his agent told the Astros on Wednesday that the seven-time Cy Young winner is set to start his personal-services contract with the team.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Yankees reportedly interested in Tejada — O's shortstop could be fallback for New York if they strike out on Miguel Cabrera — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - Though it's much too early to fit Miguel Tejada for pinstripes, it's not entirely out of the question either.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
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Murray Chass / New York Times:Bidding War for Rodriguez Needs 2 Teams
Discussion:
New York Post, River Ave. Blues, Deadspin, Boston Globe, MetsBlog.com, MY BASEBALL BIAS and The GYS Network
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Reliever Dotel joins free-agent field — Available players can start talking with other clubs Tuesday — ATLANTA — If Octavio Dotel returns to the Braves for the 2008 season, his salary will likely be less than he'd hoped. — As expected the Braves declined his $5.5 million option …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest Braves Rumors: Glavine, DeJesus, Dotel — Here's a look at the recent dealings and rumors surrounding the Braves. — Frank Wren publicly admitted that the Braves would like to add Tom Glavine to their rotation for 2008. They're hoping for a hometown discount, which he may be amenable to based on this report.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Johnny D arrives — ORLANDO — Johnny Damon just pulled up to the hotel here at the GM Meetings in his brand new Ferrari. He said he met with new Yankees' manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman and received assurances that he would be the Yankee left fielder next season.
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Associated Press:
White Sox, SS Uribe agree to $4.5M deal — CHICAGO (AP) — Juan Uribe and the White Sox agreed Wednesday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract that keeps the slick-fielding shortstop in Chicago. — Although he ranked second among AL shortstops in home runs (20) and fielding percentage (.976) this year, Uribe had a difficult season.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays' doors are open to all offers … LAKE BUENA VISTA — The Rays didn't trade Scott Kazmir to the Mets on Tuesday. Or Delmon Young to the Giants. Or Rocco Baldelli to the Twins. Or Carl Crawford to any of a half-dozen supposedly interested teams. — But that doesn't mean they someday wouldn't.
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Huntington fills out front-office staff — New Pirates GM hires key personnel to manage farm system — PITTSBURGH — Continuing to fill critical personnel vacancies, general manager Neal Huntington filled out his baseball operations team by naming the organization's farm director …
Will Carroll / Unfiltered:
Replays, Conspiracies, and Disney — Another day in Orlando for the movers and shakers of the baseball world. Here's what we're hearing: — * Jimmie Lee Solomon acknowledged the "glacial pace" of change in baseball. That translates to "don't expect replay anytime soon."
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Cabrera likely to be California dreamin' — Also in this column: — ORLANDO — The great Miguel Cabrera should prepare for a cross-country move after the cost-conscious Marlins put him on the trading block within the last 24 hours. The Dodgers, Giants and Angels are all expected …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets covet pitching most, not A-Rod — The Mets have their sites set on improving their pitching, and Red Sox reliever Eric Gagne is among those they could sign this offseason. (Getty Images Photo) — ORLANDO, Fla. - As of dinnertime last night, the Mets had yet to meet with Scott Boras …
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Surveying the offseason landscape … ORLANDO, Fla. — The 15-day free-agent filing period still is in effect, so Major League Baseball's general managers are devoting their annual meetings to trade talks, surveying the landscape, and fraternal bonding in the shadow of Disney World.
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
Paul Hagen / philly.com:
Phillies looking at Japanese pitching star — ORLANDO, Fla. - Curt Schilling may not have been the Phillies' No. 1 choice to address their desperate need to add a starting pitcher, but the news that he opted to remain with the Boston Red Sox hit the team harder than they probably wanted to let on.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Theo says 6-man rotation not out of question … ORLANDO, Fla. - The Red Sox [team stats] have six starting pitchers now that Curt Schilling [stats] is back in the fold after signing on for one more year yesterday. — Rather than thinking about trimming back to the traditional five-man rotation …
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