Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Phils pursue Polanco — The Philadelphia Phillies are targeting Placido Polanco as their next third baseman, according to a source familiar with their thinking. And they were making a “very serious” effort to sign the 34-year-old free agent Wednesday, the source told ESPN.com.
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Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Polanco Close to Three-Year Deal — A baseball source said this morning the Phillies are close to signing Placido Polanco to a three-year, $18 million contract. The contract also includes a fourth-year mutual option for 2013. — The deal is pending a physical. — Polanco is in town today to take the physical.
Discussion:
MVN, Circling The Bases, The700Level.com, MetsBlog.com, Detroit Tigers blog and The Fightins
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Sources: Philadelphia Phillies, Placido Polanco near 3-year, $18M deal — Only a physical stands in the way of Placido Polanco becoming the Phillies' next third baseman. — According to multiple sources familiar with the club's thinking, the two sides are closing in on a three-year, $18 million deal, pending a physical.
Discussion:
Jorge Says No!
Fox Sports:
Latest buzz from the MLB offseason — The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season. Thankfully, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have all the latest gossip and buzz. Note: All times listed are ET. — Wednesday's latest news and notes
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Wagner gets $7m from Braves — Free agent loss nets 2 draft picks — Not long after the Red Sox offered arbitration to Billy Wagner, the reliever they picked up in August from the Mets, they found themselves in exactly the situation they desired. While they would have worked around …
Discussion:
Loge 13
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Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Oh Canada! Mariners seriously looking at Jason Bay and Rich Harden — Things are starting to heat up in the rumor mill as the baseball winter meetings approach. As colleague Larry Stone wrote yesterday, FoxSports mentioned the Mariners were pushing hard for British Columbia native Rich Harden to join their starting rotation.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
McLeod to San Diego — The Sox are losing another integral piece of their front office. The Sox' director of amateur scouting, Jason McLeod, is heading to San Diego to join former Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer. McLeod will be the assistant general manager with the Padres.
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Hudson also drawing interest from Sox — The list gets longer by the day — middle infielders who the Red Sox are kicking the tires on. — The likes of Adam Everett, Mark DeRosa, and Adam Kennedy are all names that have surfaced in the last few days as players the Red Sox have at least called about.
Sports Illustrated:Halladay trade talk likely to top winter meetings bill; more notes
Discussion:
Bats, Providence Journal, TSN.ca, Full Count, Sports Blog Net, New York Post, ESPN and MLB.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Report: New York Mets close to signing San Diego Padres catcher Henry Blanco — The Mets appeared to be closing in on a deal with free-agent catcher Henry Blanco. The Venezuelan newspaper “El Nacional” reported Blanco had left that country Sunday for a physical with the Mets.
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ESPN:
The Yankees' case for Halladay — The Yankees, Mets and Red Sox have spent more money in free agency over the past decade than any other teams, as ESPN's esteemed Mark Simon notes: Bi...
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman and New York Yankees brass will meet to map out course of offseason — It's been four weeks since the Yankees won the World Series, a time for Joe Girardi and his players to celebrate, accept awards and soak in all that comes with winning a championship.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves get a new closer in Wagner — Left-handed reliever agrees to join Atlanta on one-year deal — ATLANTA — Throughout his career, Billy Wagner has occasionally reminded manager Bobby Cox that he would like the opportunity to be a part of the Braves' bullpen.
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Enberg to be hired as Padres TV voice — Legendary broadcaster to call about 120 games in 2010 — SAN DIEGO — “Oh my!” The Padres have landed a legend for their television broadcast team — Dick Enberg, who is considered not only one of the most versatile broadcasters in sports, but also one of the most recognized.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
DanUpBaby / Viva El Birdos:
Ray Lankford for the Hall of Fame: A Completely Dishonest Proposal — Background — Ray Lankford is my favorite player of all time, and were it not for the unpleasant way in which he first left the Cardinals I would not be blogging about baseball, now or ever.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Players want longer first round of postseason — Buzz up! — NEW YORK (AP)—Get ready for more postseason baseball games—and fewer off days. — Players would like to see the first round of playoffs expand to best-of-seven when their next labor contract starts in 2012 …
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Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Offer: get paid to watch baseball — Passing along an email I received from Cory Schwartz from MLB Advanced Media (and yes legal types, he's not only OK with passing it on, but emailed me just so it would get passed on): — MLB.com, the Official Site of Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
