Top News:
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.
RELATED:
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:
The MLB Source, Amazin' Avenue, Mets Fever, Cleveland Sports News, Global New York Mets Fan Blog, The Musings and Prophecies …, Ya Gotta Believe, Twins Insider, FanHouse, Hardball Times, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, My Pinstripes, Shea Nation, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, Randball, It IS about the money, stupid, The Ropolitans, Chop-n-Change and iYankees
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.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Santana's Rocky Finish Raises a Few Concerns
Discussion:
MLB.com, Kranepool Society, MetsNetwork.com, the metropolitans, Associated Press and Bloomberg
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:
Tribe Report, The Heater, MetsBlog.com, iYankees, Brewers Blog, Lone Star Ball, 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:
Bless You Boys, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Future Redbirds, SOX & Dawgs, Tiger Tales, Baseball Time in Arlington, Bucs Dugout, My Pinstripes, Chop-n-Change, Bird Land, Friar Forecast, El Lefty Malo, MY BASEBALL BIAS, South Side Sox, DRaysBay, Sliding Into Home, Dodger Thoughts, Phuture Phillies 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, Caffeinated Confines, Lookout Landing and Bleeding Blue and Teal
RELATED:
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 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 …
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
RELATED:
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:
Washington Post:
Nats' Deal For Estrada Is Finalized — Free agent catcher Johnny Estrada passed his physical yesterday, finalizing a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Washington Nationals that furthers plans to send promising 23-year-old Jesus Flores to the minor leagues.
