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
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
Hot Stove New York, Bats, Save Phil Hughes, MY BASEBALL BIAS, New York Times and Sports Illustrated
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Yankees putting package together to get Santana from Twins
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
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
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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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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 …
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.
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Twins close to landing Delmon Young — 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 and righthander Matt Garza.
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
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 …
