Top News:
ESPN.com:
Wood spurns others' offers for Cubs' 1-year deal — CHICAGO — Given his history of arm problems, even Kerry Wood was surprised at all the interest he drew from other teams in free agency. — While Wood was tempted to leave, he couldn't be lured from the team he has pitched for his entire career.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Sign Kerry Wood — UPDATE, 11-26-07 at 1:45pm: It's official, and it's worth $4.2MM plus another possible $3.45MM in incentives. Ryan Dempster's move to the rotation is official, and it looks like the Cubs may not pursue another starter (they had been linked to Hiroki Kuroda).
Associated Press:
Twins, Yankees in preliminary talks about Santana — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins have started trade talks involving Johan Santana. — Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said Monday that discussions are ongoing but it was too early to tell whether they would lead to a deal.
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Colletti banks on young players — Pricey deals make the GM think twice about acquiring veterans. Plus, he's 'curious' to see what the younger players have in store. — Citing the high asking prices for top players on the trade market and the lack of quality among free agents …
George King / New York Post:
JOHAN SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS
JOHAN SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS
Discussion:
Boy of Summer, NY Daily News, FanHouse, NJ.com, MY BASEBALL BIAS and Can't Stop The Bleeding
MLB.com:
2007 postseason shares announced — A full postseason share for the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox totaled $308,235.75, while a full share for the National League Champion Colorado Rockies totaled $233,505.18, Major League Baseball announced today.
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Associated Press:
World Series share money declines from last year — NEW YORK — A full World Series share was worth $308,236 for the Boston Red Sox, down from the record $362,173 set by the St. Louis Cardinals last year. — Boston's split of the postseason players' pool was $18.89 million …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Hampton injured ... again — Braves uncertain if pitcher, making rehab, will return to action this winter — It's a familiar refrain, this time from south of the border: Mike Hampton is hurt again. — The Braves left-hander injured his right hamstring in the first inning of his first start in the Mexican Winter League last week.
Discussion:
Chop-n-Change
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Hampton hurt again; whither Andruw? — A quick one, before he's away at the Winter Meetings (OK, that was fairly lame paraphrasing of the The Who's rockin' second album title). — If it seems like negotiation wheels are grinding slowly for free agents such as the Braves' Andruw Jones, Ron Mahay and Octavio Dotel, well, they are.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Carefully casting for help — Melvin won't rush into bullpen deals — Doug Melvin realizes he has a void to fill at the back of his bullpen. What he doesn't want to do is make a move that he'll regret. — "I want to be careful and not panic now," the Milwaukee Brewers general manager said Monday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Associated Press:
Raines, Justice among Hall candidates — LIKE THIS STORY? — NEW YORK (AP) - Tim Raines and David Justice head 11 first-time candidates on the baseball writers' 2008 Hall of Fame ballot, joining Mark McGwire, Rich Gossage, Jim Rice and 11 other holdovers.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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MLB.com:
Annual Clubhouse Sale set for Friday and Saturday at Miller Park — The Milwaukee Brewers will be hosting the 27th Annual Brewers Clubhouse Sale this Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Miller Park. — The sale is called the "Clubhouse Sale" because it will take place in the Visiting Team Clubhouse at Miller Park.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Report: Brocail, Astros agree on terms — Right-handed reliever last pitched for Houston in 1996 — HOUSTON — The Astros and free-agent right-hander Doug Brocail have agreed to terms on a contract, a Houston television station reported on Monday night. — KRIV-TV, citing Major League …
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
The case for Estrada — Just got back from an extended Thanksgiving break and it seems as if everyone has been busy carving up Johnny Estrada with the same knife they used on last week's bird. — Since the Mets traded for Estrada, the best thing said about him in most circles is that he is not Guillermo Mota.
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
Hank Steinbrenner eclipsing GM Cashman — In the not so distant past, the New York Yankees' information flow was about as tight as the Soviet-era Kremlin's, which was to say, good luck trying to get a front-office response to the most benign questions. News blackouts from Tampa, Fla. …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Will Young change positions? — Rangers beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers fans' questions — With Torii Hunter already signed with the Angels, are the Rangers going to try for Aaron Rowand, or make an attempt to snag Coco Crisp from Boston, or will they go against what they said earlier …