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, Hot Stove New York, Mets Merized Online, Hot Foot and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets make no bones about their needs — Minaya and staff head to Winter Meetings seeking pitching — NEW YORK — If the Mets' "next year" were to begin today, their starting rotation would have a certain translucent quality. It is that thin — thinner than it was when their 2007 season ended …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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:
Bats, Save Phil Hughes, Hot Stove New York, New York Times, Sports Illustrated and MY BASEBALL BIAS
ESPN:
Sources: Rays, Twins close to Young-Garza swap — The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are close to a swap of two potential future stars. — The Twins would acquire outfielder Delmon Young in exchange for right-hander Matt Garza, sources told ESPN.com's Keith Law.
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
Rays Anatomy, MLB Trade Rumors, SBG Nation Presents …, FanHouse, The Transaction Guy, The Heater, DRaysBay, Mets Fever and Hot Foot
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 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Chop-n-Change, Talking Chop, Pinstripe Alley and Hot Foot
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers seeking three areas of need — Veteran bullpen help, center fielder and impact bat wanted — ARLINGTON — By the time the Rangers assemble in Nashville, Tenn., for baseball's Winter Meetings on Monday, their offseason will be two months old. — In that time, nothing has changed.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
It's official: Reds land closer Cordero — Reliever signs four-year deal, with a club option for 2012 — CINCINNATI — The Reds made the addition of Francisco Cordero official on Wednesday by announcing that they had signed the All-Star closer to a four-year contract.
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
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.
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Don't believe those rumors — Don't believe the rumors you read and hear that suggest the Brewers might trade for Minnesota closer Joe Nathan or Washington's Chad Cordero, in the wake of losing free agent Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati. — General manager Doug Melvin said today it is unlikely …
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.
