Top News:
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Polanco Signs Three-Year, $18 Million Deal — The Phillies announced Placido Polanco has signed a three-year, $18 million contract. The contract also includes a fourth-year mutual option for 2013. — Polanco will meet with reporters later today. — Update: The Phillies also just announced …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Daily Dish, Mets Merized Online, MVN, The700Level.com, Detroit Tigers blog, The Fightins and NESN.com
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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.
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Circling The Bases, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports, Mets Merized Online, Phillies Nation and AaronGleeman.com
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:
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
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.
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
Sports Illustrated:Halladay trade talk likely to top winter meetings bill; more notes
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Providence Journal, Bats, TSN.ca, New York Post, Full Count, Sports Blog Net, 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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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Mets may be nearing deal with Blanco — Veteran would add depth off the bench, behind the plate — The Mets appear close to acquiring more depth, both off the bench and behind the plate. — Early Thursday morning, The New York Daily News cited the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional …
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Girardi says Pettitte is key to off-season — NEW YORK — To get a better idea of whether the Yankees will become a more urgent suitor for starting pitching this winter, they must receive the answer to one question first. — What is Andy Pettitte's status?
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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.
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 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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John Manuel / Sports Illustrated:
MLB's best and worst farm systems … Baseball America ranks the 30 MLB farm systems twice a year — in the spring, as the minor league season is about to start, and again every December in our Prospect Handbook. — It's a collaborative effort, and staff members don't always agree on what constitutes a strong system.
Discussion:
The Heater
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.
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
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia injures throwing shoulder — Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, recovering from surgery late in the season to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, will return to Arlington after just two game in the Dominican Winter League because of pain in the surgically-repaired shoulder.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
