Top News:
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Gagne to sign with Brewers — A little more than a week after losing closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday morning were near a contract agreement with veteran reliever Eric Gagne, according to an industry source.
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Torres traded, but weighing retirement — Pirates deal reliever to Milwaukee for two relief prospects — Just because Salomon Torres was traded to Milwaukee does not mean he has to go. — Torres, dealt by the Pirates yesterday for relief prospects Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts …
Discussion:
The MLB Source
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers have real shot at Gagne — By the sheer process of elimination of other clubs, the Brewers might have become the favorite to sign free-agent closer Eric Gagne. — On Friday, Gagne turned down an offer of salary arbitration by the Boston Red Sox, all but ending his relationship with that club.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Move miffs Torres — Newly acquired reliever might retire — Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said Friday evening that he hoped newly acquired reliever Salomon Torres was not serious when he told a Pittsburgh newspaper that he might retire instead of reporting to the Brewers.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Gagne declines offer of arbitration — Decision likely ends right-hander's tenure with Boston — BOSTON — Eric Gagne's brief and frustrating run with the Boston Red Sox likely came to an end on Friday night, when the right-handed reliever declined the club's offer of salary arbitration.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Timlin deal's done — Gagne declines Sox' arbitration offer … While the Red Sox [team stats] were learning that reliever Eric Gagne would not accept their offer of arbitration, the team continued to prepare for 2008 by keeping much of its '07 World Series-winning roster intact.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Pirates trade Torres to Brewers for two prospects
Discussion:
Babes Love Baseball, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., Brewers Bar, The Transaction Guy and Bucs Dugout
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: Santana Wants to Be On the Mets — ...having talked with a variety of people over the last few days, ranging from those who are connected to the team to people connected to player reps to those who work in media and for teams who are following the negotiations, from what i can gather …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees showing interest in Japanese reliever — The Yankees, searching for affordable bullpen help, met with the representative for Japanese free agent Kazuo Fukumori during the winter meetings in Nashville. — Alan Nero, Fukumori's agent, told Newsday he met with Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Bradford Files, MLB Trade Rumors, River Ave. Blues, DRaysBay, MetsBlog.com, Rays Anatomy, My Pinstripes and New York Post
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Hank Steinbrenner: Door still open for Johan Santana to join Yankees — While Hank Steinbrenner acknowledges that he hasn't slammed the door on a potential blockbuster deal for Johan Santana, several possible trade chips the Twins might want are "as close to untouchable as you get," the Yankees' senior vice president said Friday.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs could fit Roberts into plan — NASHVILLE — The latest name to crawl across the Cubs' radar screen is Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts, a two-time All-Star who would cost them a couple of top prospects in return. — General manager Jim Hendry met Tuesday with former Cubs president …
Discussion:
Cub Town
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Schoeneweis escapes discipline — MLB will not suspend lefty for role in performance-enhancers — NEW YORK — The Mets bullpen has dodged a bullet. Scott Schoeneweis, signed by the Mets in January, will not be disciplined by Major League League baseball for his involvement with performance-enhancing substances.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Evan Grant / rangers.beloblog.com:
Going, going Gagne — The Rangers have announced that they are dropping out of the bidding for free agent Eric Gagne. While no specific reason was given, Jon Daniels said Thursday he hoped to have closure on some issues quickly. The Rangers were not willing to give Gagne two guaranteed seasons.
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins start searching for third baseman — NASHVILLE — Scott Rolen, Wes Helms and Abraham Nunez were just a few of the names on a wish list posted in the Marlins' suite at the Gaylord Opryland hotel, a rough draft of candidates Florida might target to replace third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Frank Litsky / New York Times:
Chamberlain Says Prospect of Starting or Pitching Relief is 'Win-Win' — Pitcher Joba Chamberlain is reaping the rewards of his sensational first season with the Yankees. He is doing nothing, or almost nothing. — "When the season ended, I took some time off," he said yesterday …
Discussion:
My Pinstripes
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's the hot pick to sign Bonds — (12-07) 04:00 PST Nashville — If they had decided to rebuild, the A's wouldn't have a spot for Barry Bonds. — However, the club is intact as the winter meetings end, and Oakland is considered the hot pick to sign the free-agent outfielder despite …
