Top News:
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 …
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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 …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Source: New York Yankees could turn to Hideki Matsui, minors to fill DH slot if Johnny Damon balks — INDIANAPOLIS - Brian Cashman left the winter meetings Thursday having filled two big holes on his 2010 roster, yet there is still work left for him to do before the Yankees report to Tampa 10 weeks from now.
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.
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 …
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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 and SOX & Dawgs
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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, Fox Sports, Lone Star Ball, Texas Rangers Blog and Baseball Beat …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
One of many — A boy waits for the rumbling sound of an old blue car to climb through the maple trees, and right after he hears it, he can see through the barn windows the dust rising along the dirt road to the north. It doesn't matter what the boy is doing — maybe shoveling out the barn …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Rule 5 Wrap — The extra year of protection added in 2006 has made the Rule 5 draft even more of a dart toss than previous years, with one team official commenting, “What were once thin pickings is now downright anorexic.” Still, with most people betting on maybe 10-12 selections getting made …
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 …
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Torrealba, Rockies now $400,000 apart in talks — DENVER — Pudge Rodriguez has never played an inning for the Rockies. Neither has Ramon Hernandez. But in many ways, they hold the key to Yorvit Torrealba's return to the Rockies. — According to information obtained this morning …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Espn Com / MLB:
New York Yankees negotiating to re-sign Johnny Damon, sources say — The New York Yankees have begun contract negotiations with free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, major league sources tell ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — If the Yankees are unable to re-sign Damon …
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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.
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).
Steve Kornacki / MLive.com:
Scouts: Tigers got best of three-team deal with Yankees, Diamondbacks — INDIANAPOLIS — Talk about the Detroit Tigers' trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees continued Thursday on the final day of baseball's winter meetings. — Two major league scouts …
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
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, Bottom9 Baseball, Memories Of Kevin Malone and New York Post
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