Top News:
ESPN:
Source: Don't count out Mets in Johan trade derby — A major league executive with knowledge of the Twins' trade talks told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand that the Mets should not be counted out of the Johan Santana Sweepstakes. Mets general manager Omar Minaya has had talks with Twins GM Bill Smith.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New York Post, Mets Merized Online, Hot Foot, Can't Stop The Bleeding and MY BASEBALL BIAS
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Wanted: Santana — Sox in aggressive pursuit … The Red Sox [team stats] are actively engaged in trade talks with the Minnesota Twins about Johan Santana and plan to aggressively pursue the two-time Cy Young Award winner, a baseball source said yesterday.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs, Surviving Grady, Associated Press, Peter's Red Sox Forever and Lone Star Ball
NY Daily News:
Watch out Yankees! Mets ready to make pitch for Johan Santana — Over the years they have managed to stay out of each other's way in the pursuit of high-priced free agents, but not this time. The Johan Santana sweepstakes has put the Mets and Yankees on a collision course that is likely …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets turn attention toward A's Haren and Blanton — Oakland's Dan Haren is one of two A's pitchers the Mets are strongly pursuing this offseason. (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan) — As the Yankees trumpet their trade talks for Johan Santana, the Mets, in typical fashion, aren't saying much when it comes to their rotation needs.
New Jersey Online:
No Joba, Cano in pitch for Santana — To acquire pitcher Johan Santana, the Yankees are willing to consider trading center fielder Melky Cabrera as well as one of their top young pitchers. — But right-hander Joba Chamberlain and second baseman Robinson Cano would be off-limits …
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:Rowand out of picture — Crisp a more likely target for Sox; Taveras a possibility
NY Daily News:While Johan Santana loves New York, L.A. and Boston could be inviting
Discussion:
Hot Stove New York, Bats, Save Phil Hughes, New York Times, Sports Illustrated and MY BASEBALL BIAS
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Yankees putting package together to get Santana from Twins
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Twins close to landing Delmon Young [updated] — The Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are close to finalizing a multi-player deal, according to several sources with knowledge of the discussions. The deal could be announced as soon as today. — The main pieces changning teams would be outfielder Delmon Young …
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MLB.com:
Mets acquire RHP Brian Stokes — The New York Mets announced today that they have acquired right-handed relief pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Stokes will be added to New York's 40-man roster, which now stands at 36.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Twins still looking to ship Nathan, Santana — LIKE THIS STORY? — Johan Santana might not be the only big-name Twins pitcher who gets traded before Opening Day. Joe Nathan also looks like a goner, especially now that the Reds are on the verge of inflating the closer market …
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
A 'pen-ny for Rays' thoughts — At Meetings, club will seek out arms to help out Reyes — ST. PETERSBURG — For the Rays, the offseason is not a sprint, rather a marathon, which is why they view the upcoming Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., as a starting point, rather than a period in which something must get done.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Crasnick: Sizing up the starting pitching market … A few new truths have come to light in Major League Baseball this offseason. Such as: — Hank Steinbrenner is a budding quote machine. The Los Angeles Angels are dead serious when they say they're tired of falling short in the postseason.
Chris Kline / Baseball America:
Early Rule 5 Preview — Buckle your seatbelts. This year's Rule 5 draft will likely be more exciting than 2006, thanks to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. — Included in the new CBA, which went into effect last October, was an alteration to the Rule 5, giving teams an extra year …
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Wagner lays out challenges ahead — Veteran closer tackles offseason issues facing club — NEW YORK — Part of the Mets' introduction to Billy Wagner two years ago was a warning. "I'm blunt," he told them. And he suggested if candor were upsetting, the club might be better off looking elsewhere for a relief pitcher.
Nate Silver / Unfiltered:
Is Baserunning A Skill? — We're going to be doing a lot more with Dan Fox's baserunning numbers across a number of platforms. You'll see his baserunning numbers in Baseball Prospectus 2008, and we hope to turn them into a continually updated stat report for next season.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards weigh options at short — Properly modifying the Cardinals is as much about timing as it is about money, according to general manager John Mozeliak. — His search for a starting shortstop offers an intriguing first example. — Three days away from formally extending …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jonathan Hale / Hardball Times:
A zone of their own — Even though baseball's general managers voted last week overwhelmingly in favor of instant replay, the human element is still alive and well in baseball officiating. Home plate umpires make about 150 decisions a game, about which no argument is even allowed.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
