Top News:
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, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Surviving Grady and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
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.
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.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Rowand out of picture — Crisp a more likely target for Sox; Taveras a possibility — It's an easy assumption to make. — The White Sox watched the Los Angeles Angels nab Torii Hunter from their grasp for 90 million reasons last week, and they're still in the market for a center fielder.
NY Daily News:
While Johan Santana loves New York, L.A. and Boston could be inviting — Forget about the Subway Series. The Yankees and Mets will set off on a collision course next week in Nashville with a far greater bounty than a measly regular-season game at stake. — Their mutual target …
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yanks could trade pitcher, young hitter — In their pursuit of Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana, the Yankees must be willing to give until it hurts. — The Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox will be in there, too, pitching young impact players and prospects. And then, there's the matter …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Top Prospects Merely a Down Payment on Santana — When Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins thinks about the seven-year, $126 million contract that Barry Zito signed with the San Francisco Giants 11 months ago, it would be natural for him to smile. And when general managers ponder that bloated contract …
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Yankees putting package together to get Santana from Twins
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
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 …
RELATED:
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.
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.
CBS SportsLine.com:
Insider: Johan soon gone? Feeling Minnesota's hot-stove temp — Smith said his mission this winter, simply, is "to try to make the club better." It's a relative statement, of course, because while Angels owner Arte Moreno didn't hesitate in forking over $90 million to Hunter during a whirlwind …
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
obsessivegiantscompulsive
John Perrotto / Baseball America:
Pittsburgh Pirates: Top 10 Prospects — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins heading back to school — Team employees to take part in Junior Achievement Day — MIAMI — Marlins employees will head back to school on Friday to take part in a Junior Achievement Day. — The event is taking place at Parkway Elementary School in Miami. In all, 26 team employees will be teaching 20 classes.
Discussion:
FishStripes
