Top News:
Mark Hale / New York Post:
METS AIMING FOR SOME HELP ON THE MOUND — The Mets won't make a trade with the Twins simply to rent ace left-hander Johan Santana. For the Mets to trade for Santana, they would require a window to discuss a new contract, a person with knowledge of the club's thinking said yesterday.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Dugout Central, MLB Trade Rumors, Take the 7 Train, Hot Foot, Mostly Mets, FanHouse, Twins Killings and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Yanks, Red Sox in Santana talks — The Twins have opened trade discussions for Johan Santana by asking the Yankees for a package of at least three young players that would include one of their three top starters — Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy — plus center fielder Melky Cabrera.
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Brocail likely to depart Padres — UNION-TRIBUNE FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS — Reliever Doug Brocail is on the verge of leaving the Padres. — "More than likely, he'll sign elsewhere," General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday. — The Padres will get a compensatory pick …
New Jersey Online:
Yanks talk to Twins about Santana — Baseball's winter meetings don't begin until next week, but the Yankees and Twins have already started trade talks regarding pitcher Johan Santana. — While Yankees senior vice-president Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press yesterday that it's …
Mark Kriegel / Fox Sports:
A new boss in the Bronx — LIKE THIS STORY? — As the parties convene to commemorate the historic document — Alex Rodriguez's record-breaking contract with the New York Yankees — expect more sanctimony than celebration. This signing will be interpreted like an armistice.
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Sell the Whole Farm for Santana — There has never been a pitcher quite like Johan Santana. You could call him a left-handed Pedro Martinez, but that would insult his uniqueness. Once thought too short to be a starter, the reticent Venezuelan hero has been the key to this decade's baseball renaissance …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Dealing Hughes for Santana a questionable move — After a week of family, friends and turkey, the Yankees got back to business yesterday, resuming their pursuit of Johan Santana. — This is not going to be a quick process. Sure, the Twins could deal the two-time Cy Young winner by the end …
Discussion:
NJ.com
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Rival executives: Cubs are willing to trade Prior … Four years ago, Mark Prior had the kind of stature that Johan Santana has now, as the pitcher that everybody would love to have. But now the Chicago Cubs have made it known that they are willing to trade the former All-Star pitcher, rival executives say.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs waiting for Kuroda on offer — The Diamondbacks have extended an offer to right-hander Hiroki Kuroda and are waiting to hear back from the Japanese free agent. — General Manager Josh Byrnes would not divulge details of the offer, but Kuroda could command a deal worth up to $10 million a year for at least three years.
RELATED:
Jim McLennan / AZ Snakepit:Turning Japanese? — Something of a curveball, in the news …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
ROYALS NOTES: Guillen report denied — The Royals are dismissing reports from the Dominican Republic that say they are close to an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen. — General manager Dayton Moore declined to comment on the matter, but indications suggest the Baltimore Orioles …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
RELATED:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Two Series titles evidence of growing Theo-logy — Sometime soon the adjectives will be replaced. For the breadth of his career as Boston Red Sox general manager, Theo Epstein's name has been preceded by some variation of his youth - kid, wunderkind, prodigy, all said with good intentions, and all tinged with derision.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Loyalty not an act for this Red Sox fan — Homeboy Matt Damon, who narrates the 2007 World Series DVD that had its premiere last night at the Wang Center, is proud of his bona fides as a Red Sox fan, one who showed up on David Letterman's show last summer wearing a Sox jersey to diss the Yankees his entire interview.
David Jones / Florida Today:
Former Marlins trainer watches steroids debate with great interest — With a federal indictment looming over Barry Bonds, the steroids issue casts a cloud over the game that continues to grow darker with each passing home run. — Was it real, or was it enhancements?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, new hitting coach reach agreement — Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates this morning reached a contract agreement with Don Long to become their new hitting coach. — Long, 45, had been the Philadelphia Phillies' minor-league hitting coordinator since 1999 …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
USA Today:
Seeking relief: Bullpen aces prime targets in free agency — Relief pitchers are beginning to make their mark on the free agent market again this winter, but how much value remains is the difficult call for teams looking to beef up their bullpens. The recent lesson is money might not be the answer.
Discussion:
Sabernomics
