Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: Mets likely won't reach deal with Santana until Friday, if at all … It appears the Mets' negotiations with the agents for Johan Santana won't be over quickly. — Sources familiar with those discussions said Thursday that while the talks may not go right to Friday's 5 p.m. deadline …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Cleveland Sports News, Global New York Mets Fan Blog, The MLB Source, Mets Fever, The Musings and Prophecies …, Twins Insider, FanHouse, Hardball Times, Ya Gotta Believe, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, My Pinstripes, Shea Nation, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, Randball, The Ropolitans, Chop-n-Change, It IS about the money, stupid and iYankees
RELATED:
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.
Sports Illustrated:
Mets, Santana making progress — Sides about $20 million apart with deadline looming — The Mets and superstar pitcher Johan Santana are making progress on a multi-year contract that's likely to guarantee him about $150 million, according to people familiar with the talks.
USA Today:
Santana trade opens market for free agent pitchers — The Red Sox and Yankees are used to always getting their man, but with the New York Mets expecting to sign Johan Santana to a contract extension Friday that will finalize their trade with Minnesota, it has left Boston and New York in radically different moods.
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.
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Morgan Ensberg Signs With Yankees — According to a source, the Yankees have signed Morgan Ensberg. They'll use him at first base (and maybe off the bench). It's a minor league deal. Jerry Crasnick confirms it, noting that the Rays and Giants expressed interest.
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.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Tribe Report, The Heater, Brewers Blog, Lone Star Ball, iYankees, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, The Ropolitans, YanksBlog.com, ShysterBall and River Ave. Blues
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Top 100 Prospects — The Best of the Best
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington, Bless You Boys, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Future Redbirds, Bucs Dugout, My Pinstripes, Tiger Tales, Chop-n-Change, Friar Forecast, Bird Land, El Lefty Malo, MY BASEBALL BIAS, South Side Sox, DRaysBay, Sliding Into Home, Phuture Phillies, Dodger Thoughts and SFGate
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, Lookout Landing, Caffeinated Confines and Bleeding Blue and Teal
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
The Griddle
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
RELATED:
Todd Jones / Sporting News:Santana deal will work out for the Twins
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Carrying a Heavy Weight, Cashman Stands 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 …
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:PHIL'S PITCHING FOR A JOB - CASHMAN'S
Discussion:
New York Times, NJ.com, My Pinstripes, NY Daily News, MLB Trade Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog and WasWatching.com
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.
RELATED:
Phil Hughes / The Phil Hughes Weblog:
Number Change — I know I mentioned in the Q&A that I wasn't planning on changing my number. Well that has changed. A number change is in the works. Not sure exactly what it is going to be yet, but I thought I would throw it out there. — Also, I saw a few comments about me being an Alton Brown fan …
