Top News:
New York Post:
TANGO FOR CA$H — METS, ARE STILL TALKING PRICE — The Mets and Johan Santana's agent agree the ace must be made the highest-paid pitcher ever. The only question appears to be how high the final number will reach before today's deadline strikes. — With a deadline of 5 p.m. today …
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Notes: Gomez reacts to Santana trade — Ready to take over in center field if deal is finalized — MINNEAPOLIS — Carlos Gomez didn't seem surprised that many people have reacted negatively to the four-player package the Twins will be receiving from the Mets in return for ace Johan Santana.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets, Santana working on extension — Friday deadline for negotiating of 5 p.m. ET approaching — NEW YORK — Doors are closed, words are whispered, inquiries are denied, millions are at stake. And the kingdom of the Mets frets like an expectant father.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Santana's agent likely to take Mets to deadline — Within the baseball industry, there is near unanimity on these two predictions when it comes to the Mets and Johan Santana: — 1. They will come to an agreement on Santana's contract extension by Friday afternoon's 5 o'clock deadline.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Johan Santana deadline is Friday — The Mets and Johan Santana are going into the final day of their 72-hour negotiating window Friday still working on a contract extension for the ace, but multiple baseball officials expressed confidence that the deal would be completed by the 5 p.m. deadline.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: The Final Day of Talks for Santana — In Newsday, Ken Davidoff explains that there are two unanimous predictions within the baseball industry when it comes to the Mets and Johan Santana, 1) They will come to an agreement on Santana's contract extension by Friday afternoon's 5 o'clock deadline …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Todd Jones / Sporting News:Santana deal will work out for the Twins
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jayson Stark / ESPN:Sources: Mets likely won't reach deal with Santana until Friday, if at all
Discussion:
Unfiltered, The MLB Source, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Fever, Ya Gotta Believe, ShysterBall, Global New York Mets Fan Blog, Cleveland Sports News, The Musings and Prophecies …, Twins Insider, FanHouse, Hardball Times, My Pinstripes, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, Shea Nation, MetsBlog.com, It IS about the money, stupid, Mets Merized Online, Randball, The Ropolitans, Chop-n-Change, TwinCities.com and iYankees
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Ensberg agrees to deal, joins candidates for Yankees' first base job … Free-agent infielder Morgan Ensberg has reached agreement on a one-year, contract with the New York Yankees, and will join the competition for the team's first base job in spring training. — “I'm extremely excited about it,” Ensberg said Thursday.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Carrying a Weight, but Standing Firm — When Brian Cashman tells the story of how he became the Yankees' general manager, he makes his voice squeaky, like a teenager's, as he tries to sound confident before the principal owner George Steinbrenner. — That was Feb. 3, 1998, and a decade later …
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MLB.com:
Seattle Mariners sign outfielder Brad Wilkerson — Mariners sign versatile Wilkerson to one-year deal — SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the Mariners have signed free agent outfielder Brad Wilkerson to a one-year contract.
Discussion:
seattlepi.com Mariners blog, Caffeinated Confines, Lookout Landing and Bleeding Blue and Teal
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Keith Law / ESPN:
Top 100 prospects of 2008 … I now present to you the ESPN Scouts Inc. Top 100 Prospects Ranking for 2008. To prepare this list, I've re-read my scouting reports, watched some old draft videos and most importantly, I've ignored team officials who lobbied for their players.
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:Top 100 Prospects
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, Bless You Boys, Future Redbirds, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Tiger Tales, Baseball Time in Arlington, Bucs Dugout, My Pinstripes, Bird Land, YanksBlog.com, Chop-n-Change, Friar Forecast, El Lefty Malo, South Side Sox, MY BASEBALL BIAS, DRaysBay, Sliding Into Home, Dodger Thoughts, Phuture Phillies and SFGate
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins land Gonzalez to fill leadership role — Outfielder Luis Gonzalez said he always has been intrigued with the idea of playing in Florida. But it was a phone call from owner Jeffrey Loria last month that convinced the five-time All Star that the Marlins were the right team.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins Caravan tour plans set — FanFest will conclude the week-long trip on Feb. 9 — MIAMI — The annual Marlins Caravan is about to begin. — The team announced on Thursday the schedule for the 2008 Broward Health Marlins Caravan, which runs from Feb. 4-9.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Twins show interest in signing Fogg — The winter free-agent market is starting to thaw for Josh Fogg. The Minnesota Twins contacted Fogg's agent Thursday, and appear serious about adding the veteran right-hander if the Johan Santana deal goes through with the New York Mets.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
DUI from '99 snags Cora — Sox IF posts bond … Red Sox infielder Alex Cora [stats] turned himself into the Martin County (Florida) jail on Wednesday on a probation violation charge related to a 1999 DUI case. — According to a source close to Cora, the 32-year-old believed that the matter …
New York Post:
VICTIM WAS DWI — ODD TWIST IN LEYRITZ SLAY CASE — By JULIE KAY in Plantation, Fla., and CYNTHIA R. FAGEN in NY — The 30-year-old mother of two tragically killed last month when boozing ex-Yankee Jim Leyritz crashed his SUV into her car had herself been driving drunk, The Post has learned.
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