Top News:
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Pettitte to play for Yankees in '08 — Agent confirms veteran's decision to choose Bronx over retirement — NASHVILLE - Andy Pettitte, who contemplated retirement this winter, has told his good friends, a few former Astros teammates and some current Yankees teammates that he will return to the Bronx for the 2008 season.
RELATED:
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Santana speaks (sort of) and Twins are mad about Hanky-Panky. — The Star Tribune has just been contacted by Johan Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg. — Greenberg said Santana is mad after reading reports that he's ordered the Twins to trade him to either Boston or New York.
ESPN.com:
Pettitte not retiring, will pitch for Yankees in 2008 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Andy Pettitte has decided to put off retirement and pitch for the New York Yankees in 2008. — Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday that the 35-year-old left-hander had started telling teammates on Sunday.
Boston Globe:
Ellsbury not untouchable for Santana — NASHVILLE - Zero hour for a Johan Santana trade may be approaching. — Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner, vowing "not to be played" by the Red Sox, said publicly the Minnesota Twins must make a decision on whether to accept New York's offer by today, or it will be withdrawn.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Mariners out of Santana sweepstakes — Seattle no longer discussing deal for Twins' starting pitcher — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Mariners have dropped out of the Johan Santana sweepstakes. — A high-ranking American League official confirmed Monday afternoon that the Mariners …
Associated Press:
Kuhn elected to Hall of Fame; union adversary Miller left out again — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the revamped Veterans Committee on Monday while his longtime adversary, players' union boss Marvin Miller, was left out for the second time this year.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds, Associated Press, Boston Globe, Baseball Musings, One More Dying Quail and ShysterBall
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Five elected to Hall by Vets Committee — Williams, Southworth, Kuhn, O'Malley, Dreyfuss get nods — NASHVILLE — Five managers and executives were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday under revamped rules that created separate Veterans Committee ballots.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Peavy, Padres nearing contract extension — New deal would guarantee ace's salary through 2012 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Padres and ace pitcher Jake Peavy have agreed to the basics of an extension that will guarantee his salary through 2012. Later this week, the sides will try to agree …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Santana, Cabrera and more Opryland excitement … There's no edition of the winter meetings quite like a Nashville/Opryland edition of the winter meetings. — Where Christmas carolers do their best to out-warble America's finest GMs. Where dancing waters outnumber dancing agents.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Shea Nation, MetsBlog.com, The Good Phight, Bless You Boys, MLB Trade Rumors, Hot Foot, Baltimore Sun and Washington Post
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Minaya under pressure in New York — FOXSports.com, Updated 2 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — Mets general manager Omar Minaya always takes a high-energy approach, but it would be understandable if he was even more motivated this off-season. — The pressure on him is growing.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pettitte to return to Yankees — Less than a week after Jorge Posada and his father both said he was leaning to retirement, Andy Pettitte changed his mind and decided to pitch for the Yankees in 2008. — Details are still coming in, but it is believed Pettitte will pitch for the $16 million that was his original contract option.
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: D'Backs to Trade Quentin to White Sox — According to MLB Radio, the D'Backs will soon announce that they have traded OF Carlos Quentin to the White Sox for 20-year-old 1B Chris Carter.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs May Shop Murton — Jim Hendry may view 26 year-old outfielder Matt Murton as expendable, if only because he's not the left-handed hitter the Cubs crave. — Murton has a respectable career line of .296/.365/.455 in 289 games. While it would be nice to see his power develop a bit, he's a decent option in right field.
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Steve Henson / Yahoo! Sports:
Buzz from the winter meetings — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Early trade talk and free-agent buzz from the winter meetings: — •The Texas Rangers are quietly shopping third baseman Hank Blalock, who spent last season battling injuries. Even when healthy, Blalock's production has slipped significantly …
Sal Baxamusa / Hardball Times:
Consistency is key — You know that frustrating feeling when your team pastes the opposition by piling on 10 runs but then drops the next two games while scoring a total of three runs? Fans of every team in the majors have said it before: "Damn [insert favorite team] are feast or famine!
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Willis likely to remain with Marlins — Team expects to retain left-hander, but will listen to offers — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While it seems inevitable that Miguel Cabrera will be leaving the Marlins, strong indications surfaced on Sunday that Dontrelle Willis will be staying in South Florida.
