Top News:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Sign Jayson Werth — Scott Boras landed Jayson Werth a nine-figure contract with a surprise suitor this afternoon. The Nationals signed the free agent outfielder to a seven-year, $126MM deal. In case any doubt remained, this deal shows that it's a good time to be a free agent.
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Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Werth Close to Signing with Nationals — Jayson Werth is close to leaving the Phillies, and his destination would be a surprise. — Sources told MLB.com this afternoon Werth's agent Scott Boras was close to a deal with the Washington Nationals on a multiyear contract.
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals sign Jayson Werth — The Nationals have signed free agent outfielder Jayson Werth, according to a source, robbing the division rival Philadelphia Phillies of one of their best players and making stunning improvement to their immediate chances at contention.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, baseballmusings.com, LA Times Sports Blog and The Big Lead
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Exit Sandman? New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera may retire following 2012 season — Could this be “Enter Sandman” for Mariano Rivera's career? At the end of the two-year, $30-million contract he recently agreed to with the Yankees, the answer is “maybe,” the closer said.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Carl Crawford Rumors: Sunday — In his ESPN.com blog entry today (Insider required), Buster Olney passes along an interesting note: Agents that have spoken to Olney believe “a ton” of free agents will sign within the next week. Of course, while we could see a lot of second- or third-tier names come off …
Discussion:
New York Post, Boston Globe and Pinstripe Alley
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Extension can wait? Why Adrian Gonzalez extension might not make sense right now — The Sox will want Adrian Gonzalez for years to come...but might want to wait on an extension. (AP) — The big fish is on the hook, and now needs only to be reeled in. Or does he?
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, FenwayNationWorld, NESN.com, Ducksnorts, SBNation.com, MLB Daily Dish and Mets Today
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A-Gon Gone? — One minute progress, next minute talks are off? Strange set of circumstances going on at the moment in the Adrian Gonzalez contract extension talks. — SI.com's Jon Heyman reported talks have broken off between the Red Sox and Adrian Gonzalez' agent John Boggs and the deal is over.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
BoSox trade for Gonzalez falls through … The Red Sox were unable to complete a deal for Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, SI.com has learned. — The Padres and Red Sox had previously reached an agreement on a trade that would have sent the All-Star to Boston for four minor league prospects.
Discussion:
SignOnSanDiego.com and ESPN
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Gonzalez passes his physical; clock now ticks on getting a deal done
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, FenwayNationWorld and Yahoo! Sports
Fox Sports:
Is there a mystery team in hunt for Lee? — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — There is a mystery team in on Cliff Lee. — I don't know this for sure, but I'm guessing there is one team …
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Chicago Breaking Sports and Federal Baseball
NorthJersey.com:
Popper: Mets could use Omar Minaya's help in digging up good deals — Sandy Alderson is heading to the winter meetings today with high hopes and little cash, intent on searching through the corners and crevices of the bargain bins of major league baseball to find a useful piece.
Discussion:
Mets Today and MetsBlog.com
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
With Carlos Peña likely gone, Tampa Bay Rays will stay flexible — With Carlos Peña apparently on the way out, the Rays will turn their attention to other options at first base. — Times] — From the look of things, Carlos Peña is not coming back to the Rays.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
R.B. Fallstrom / Yahoo! Sports:
Cardinals, Berkman agree to one-year deal — is headed back to the NL Central, joining a team he knows really well. — The former Houston Astros slugger agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with St. Louis on Saturday, solidifying the Cardinals' roster ahead of the upcoming winter meetings.
Discussion:
Angels blog
RELATED:
Dallas Morning News:
Grant: Time for the Rangers to cash in on Cliff Lee — It is December and people are still talking about the Rangers. More specifically, they are talking about Cliff Lee. — You run into them in the mall or the grocery or a restaurant and they want to know if the Rangers will be able …
