Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
After Yanks' deadline passes, Red Sox jump into lead for Santana … NASHVILLE — While Hank Steinbrenner set deadlines and publicly lusted after Johan Santana, the Red Sox just bided their time and stayed in the game. — And what do you know? As Monday night turned into Tuesday morning …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Sources: Yankees passing on Johan Santana, turning toward Dan Haren — NASHVILLE - Cross Johan Santana off the Yankees' holiday shopping list. — The Yankees' self-imposed deadline came and went Monday night at the winter meetings without a deal being reached with the Twins …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, River Ave. Blues, MetsBlog.com, NJ.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog and WasWatching.com
Boston Globe:
Sox, Twins may be close — NASHVILLE - It was after midnight in the Music City, and the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins were exchanging medical information on pitchers Johan Santana and Jon Lester, indicating that the clubs may be closing in on a deal for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Bradford Files:
Lobby blogging: Haren option closing? — Colleague Michael Silverman just passed along that the A's and D-Backs have had constructive talks about a deal which would send Dan Haren to Arizona and Conor Jackson and Carlos Gonzalez along with two more players to Oakland.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox, Twins end talks for night ... but deal appears close — The Red Sox and Twins are through negotiating for now. Both Sox GM Theo Epstein and Twins GM Bill Smith have called it a night, but momentous news may await in the morning. As Amalie Benjamin reported an hour ago …
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Musings, Hot Stove New York, The House That Dewey Built and MY BASEBALL BIAS
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Yankees might pull out of Santana talks for good … NASHVILLE — With the Yankee's self-imposed deadline approaching, the Twins and Yankees were getting nowhere Monday night in their attempt to complete a deal for Johan Santana. So the Yankees were again making noises that they might pull out of the Santana talks for good.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, A Red Sox Fan …, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, WasWatching.com, NJ.com, SOX & Dawgs, Hot Foot, MetsBlog.com and MLB.com
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Marlins, Tigers talking blockbuster — FOXSports.com, Updated 21 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Marlins, stalled in their attempts to trade third baseman Miguel Cabrera, could be laying the groundwork for an even bigger deal. — The Marlins and Tigers are engaged …
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ESPN.com:
Report: Marlins' Cabrera getting fit, slimming down — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As teams consider sending prospects to the Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera, some have raised concerns about the third baseman's fitness. — But Cabrera, who along with Johan Santana is expected …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Mark Hale / New York Post:
METS MAKE MOVE TO ADD JAPANESE RIGHTY KURODA — The Mets are very much in the mix for Japanese righty Hiroki Kuroda, to the point they have moved past what was essentially an opening round of bidding, The Post has learned. — The Mets have legitimate interest in Kuroda …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Braves get Ohman, Infante from Cubs — FOXSports.com, Updated 20 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Braves, filling their need for a left-handed reliever, have acquired Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante from the Cubs for Class AA reliever Jose Ascanio, according to major-league sources.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs out front in Fukudome chase — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Whether the White Sox are serious about Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs remain the team to beat for the services of Japan's top hitter. — While being careful to respect the cultural nuances of the trans-Pacific pursuit …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals Acquire Troubled Dukes — The Washington Nationals began baseball's winter meetings Monday with a dramatic and potentially controversial move, trading for troubled Tampa Bay outfielder Elijah Dukes, a 23-year-old whose skills are undisputed but whose long and varied list of legal issues sent his standing in the game tumbling.
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Alan Matthews / Baseball America:
Los Angeles Dodgers — 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 …
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NY Daily News:
Met's pitch is a changeup — Has Oscar De La Hoya started a trend? — At the opening of Touch nightclub Thursday night, Mets pitcher John Maine followed an attractive young woman into the ladies' bathroom. — He even went into the stall with her, but she wasn't prepared for what came next.
Lou Ponsi / Orange County Register:
OC Flyers name Gary Carter manager — The Hall of Fame catcher takes over for Templeton. — Recommend — The Orange County Flyers hired Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter as their manager for the 2008 season, Flyers owner and president Alan Mintz announced Tuesday.
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Royals, Guillen agree to preliminary 3-year, $36M deal … NASHVILLE — Outfielder Jose Guillen and the Kansas City Royals have reached a preliminary agreement for a three year, $36 million deal, a relative of the ballplayer told ESPNdeportes.com. — The agreement will be complete …
