Top News:
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
NY Yankees not in position to make any more deals in immediate future … INDIANAPOLIS — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman capped off a hectic week at the winter meetings with predictions of calm after the storm. — After trading for All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson …
RELATED:
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Sox see Yankees outfielder as leadoff man — INDIANAPOLIS — White Sox general manager Ken Williams has said it before, and he said it again. — “We don't have any money,” Williams said Wednesday during his meeting with the media. “We're close to our budget right now …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Joe Cowley / Inside the White Sox:
Start spreading the news, Sox eye New York's Gardner — INDIANAPOLIS - It's not a phrase that was coming out of the mouth of Ken Williams for the very first time. — Not by a long shot. — “We don't have any money,” the White Sox general manager said during his Wednesday meeting with the media.
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Pinstripe Alley, Pinstripes, Pa., Blogging The Bombers and The iYankees Blog
NY Daily News:
Since fans aren't buying it, New York Mets must spend to prove they want to contend — INDIANAPOLIS - It's no secret that Mets fans are disgruntled, even angry, these days, waiting for a reason to buy tickets for next season. And even as the Mets made a contract offer to Jason Bay upon leaving …
RELATED:
Mark Hale / New York Post:
Francoeur a fan of free-agent targets — Jeff Francoeur has noticed the kind of lineup the Phillies sport. One of their best hitters can't crack the batting order's top five. — “You look at championship teams what they do,” Francoeur told The Post yesterday, talking about the Phils and the Yankees …
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Mets 1st to Jason Bay — Bid good for $65M — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — INDIANAPOLIS - The Mets have opened the bidding on Jason Bay. — A day after the Herald reported that New York was preparing to enter the fray, the Mets made an offer on the last day of the winter meetings.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
For Boras and Damon, it's strictly business with Yanks — INDIANAPOLIS - There's a fairly reliable axiom that's stood the test of time with baseball officials. It goes like this: If one of your players is a Scott Boras client, always remember he's about the money.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Phillies boldly raising the bar in NL … INDIANAPOLIS — After Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin just spent $37.25 million to get veteran pitchers Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins, he had an interesting take on what has happened to the level of competition in the National League.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Sox reach deal to trade Lowell to Rangers — The Red Sox have agreed in principle with the Rangers to a trade that will send popular third baseman Mike Lowell to Texas for catcher Max Ramirez, according to a baseball source. A money issue has also been resolved, the source said.
Discussion:
Full Count, WEEI, The Bottom Line, Projo Sox Blog, Over the Monster, NESN.com, Brownie Points, New York Post, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / MLB:
Report: Boston Red Sox trade Mike Lowell to Texas Rangers for Max Ramirez
Report: Boston Red Sox trade Mike Lowell to Texas Rangers for Max Ramirez
Discussion:
Jorge Says No!, Associated Press, 6-4-2, Lone Star Ball, Fox Sports, Texas Rangers Blog and Baseball Beat …
Troy Polamalu / Yahoo! Sports:
Winter meetings winners and losers — INDIANAPOLIS - The uncertain economy is the ultimate party-pooper, a real spoilsport. We've all had to acknowledge it on some level. Baseball did so this week at its annual winter meetings, often a time of frenzied spending on free agents …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Buzz: Latest Hot Stove news — The winer meetings are over, but the news never stops. Follow along as Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi keep you up to date on the latest buzz. Note: all times ET.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Nats act like they belong — At the winter meetings this week, the Nats signed a future Hall of Famer as a backup catcher for two years for an above-market price of $6 million. They also traded for a reliever who throws 97 mph, had a 3.25 ERA over his last four years with the Yankees and just pitched in the World Series.
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report
The Mets Police:
The New York Mets Respond To My Letter — Last week I sent a letter to Fred Wilpon explaining why I was not going to renew my ticket plan in 2010. I also copied several members of Mets management and a few members of the media. (You can read my letter here).
Reuters:
Taiwanese fans miss injured pitcher Wang — TAIPEI (Reuters) - A chain of injuries suffered by New York Yankees player Wang Chien-ming has thrust a pair of more obscure Taiwan-born Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers into the limelight as dejected fans in Taiwan seek someone else to support.
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft, Pick By Pick — RULE 5 DRAFT — ROUND ONE — Pick — Selecting — Team — Player — Original Team — The Skinny — Physical grinder with big league experience could stick as extra outfielder. — No. 2 — Pirates — John Raynor, of — Marlins
Discussion:
Hardball Times, redsminorleagues.com, Memories Of Kevin Malone, Bottom9 Baseball and New York Post
RELATED:
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Outfielders Hoffmann, Raynor Top Rule 5 Draft
Outfielders Hoffmann, Raynor Top Rule 5 Draft
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Pinstripe Alley, River Avenue Blues, Minor League Ball, Boston Globe, Talking Chop, Let's Go Tribe! and The Good Phight
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Braves ship Soriano to Rays … The Braves have traded reliever Rafael Soriano to the Rays, SI.com has learned. Tampa Bay will receive right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez in the trade. The deal will be complete after medical data is reviewed. — Soriano will approve the deal.
RELATED: