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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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.
Discussion:
iYankees
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.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Are Optimistic About Signing Santana — A second round of talks with the representatives for Johan Santana left the Mets feeling optimistic about their chances of signing him to a lucrative extension before their 72-hour negotiating window expires at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:Buzz: The Final Day of Talks for Santana
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
RELATED:
Phil Hughes / The Phil Hughes Weblog:Number Change
Discussion:
Bronx Liaison, Pinstripe Alley, Scott Proctor's Arm, My Pinstripes, WasWatching.com and iYankees
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
NL questions are plentiful — Adding Dan Haren to a pitching staff led by Brandon Webb gives Arizona as strong a 1-2 as any team in baseball. — What the Diamondbacks are waiting to find out is whether Randy Johnson, at age 44, can bounce back from his third back operation and fill the No. 3 slot.
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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.
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.
Gregg Bell / Associated Press:
M's add OF Wilkerson, Bedard may be next — SEATTLE (AP) — Brad Wilkerson and the Mariners agreed Thursday to a $3 million, one-year contract, a move that could signal Seattle is close to finally acquiring pitcher Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles. — Wilkerson can play …
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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 …
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Ryan interested in Texas Rangers' job — Ex-fireballer to discuss president position with Hicks when possible — rdurrett@dallasnews.com — ARLINGTON - Nolan Ryan spent Thursday evening across the street from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. — He isn't sure whether he'll spend …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Around the Horn: Rotation — The following is the fifth in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. Each Wednesday until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position. Today: Starting pitchers.
Discussion:
The Padre Post
