Top News:
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.
RELATED:
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 …
Boston Globe:
Ellsbury not untouchable for Santana
Ellsbury not untouchable for Santana
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Providence Journal, Boston Herald, New York Times, Basegirl, Peter's Red Sox Forever and Surviving Grady
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Peavy, Padres nearing contract extension
Peavy, Padres nearing contract extension
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Dukes traded to Nationals — The Rays finally had enough of Elijah Dukes. — The Rays have traded Dukes to the Nationals, the Times has confirmed, with an official announcement expected around 6 p.m. Tampa Bay time. — The Rays will get back a minor-leaguer but until he is notified …
RELATED:
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Some details on Dukes — OK we just had someone with knowledge of the situation explain how this went down. Indeed, Stan Kasten and Jim Bowden had an off-site meeting this morning at a hotel near the airport with Elijah Dukes. Also present, according to the source, was Dmitri Young …
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Elijah Dukes to Nationals? — Dave Sheinin just confirmed what I've been trying to for the last couple hours — that troubled Tampa Bay outfielder Elijah Dukes has been dealt to the Washington Nationals. — We do not yet know who was dealt in return. — More in a minute.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Nats acquire Dukes from Tampa Bay — FOXSports.com, Updated 10 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Washington Nationals have acquired outfielder Elijah Dukes from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a minor-league player, FOXSports.com has learned. — The identity of the minor-league player …
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:
Associated Press, Boston Globe, Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Musings, One More Dying Quail and ShysterBall
RELATED:
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
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.
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Santana, Cabrera and more Opryland excitement
Santana, Cabrera and more Opryland excitement
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Athletics Nation, Shea Nation, Bless You Boys, MetsBlog.com, Hot Foot, MLB Trade Rumors and Baltimore Sun
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:
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.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Bowden finally lands his prize — LIKE THIS STORY? — NASHVILLE, Tn. - Jim Bowden's infatuation with Lastings Milledge began when Bowden was the Reds' general manager and Milledge was at Lakewood Ranch H.S. in Bradenton, Fla. — At the time, the Reds were training in Plant City …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Besides the human tree, not much movin' here yet — NASHVILLE — Three of your baseball Globies — Nick Cafardo, Amalie Benjamin and myself — have been doing laps around the massive interior of the Opryland Hotel, where baseball types are shoulder to shoulder with busloads of tourists here to admire the Christmas decorations.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Winter Meetings: Delay might pay for Pirates — Ample reason to keep Bay, Morris, Wilson into 2008 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It seems a long shot that the Pirates will trade Jason Bay at Major League Baseball's four-day Winter Meetings, which begin today at the majestic Opryland Hotel.
Discussion:
Beaver County Times …, MLB Trade Rumors, Where have you gone …, Talking Chop and Baseball Prospectus
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Erstad drawing interest — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Darin Erstad, trying to retake his career after a couple seasons lost to injury and offensive struggles, has heard from the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. — The Padres, whose have Scott Hairston …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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