Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Willingham on the block — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — While Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo talked about Josh Willingham as one of the team's middle of the order hitters in 2011, a second source told MLB.com that Willingham will most likely be traded before the start of the '11 season.
Discussion:
Nationals Journal, FanGraphs Baseball and ESPN
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals looking to add bullpen help — Already trying to fill a hole at first base and add starting rotation depth, the Nationals are also looking for a closer, according to a league source. — The Nationals had one of the strongest bullpens in baseball last year, and while they possess …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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.
Discussion:
Full Count, Federal Baseball, Over the Monster, River Avenue Blues, DRaysBay, Capitol Punishment, Halos Heaven, Lookout Landing, BronxBanterBlog.com, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, sox1fan.com, Yankeeist, Amazin' Avenue, Boston Globe, Angels blog, MLB Daily Dish, Bless You Boys, Yahoo! Sports, The iYankees Blog, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and Mets Merized Online
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Nationals sign Jayson Werth [UPDATED]
Discussion:
MLB.com, Rays Index, Sports Illustrated, The Nationals Enquirer, baseballmusings.com, LA Times Sports Blog and The Big Lead
MLB.com:
Deal done, Gonzalez ‘excited’ to join Boston — Red Sox, slugger put contract talks on hold to complete trade — BOSTON — The on-again, off-again trade of Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox came to a conclusion on Monday, as Boston announced it had acquired the slugging first baseman.
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible …, Fox Sports, Boston Globe, LA Times Sports Blog, Baseball Prospectus and FenwayNationWorld
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Gary Dzen / Boston Globe:
Red Sox introduce Gonzalez — Globe Staff — A formal member of the Red Sox for hours if not moments, Adrian Gonzalez already knew the right words to appease his new fans. — “I'm very excited that everything was able to be worked out,” said Gonzalez this afternoon …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Sports Illustrated, baseballmusings.com, Babes Love Baseball, Red Sox Beacon, The Joy of Sox and Full Count
Scott Lauber / Clubhouse Insider:
Source: Red Sox interested in reliever Brian Fuentes — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Today, like yesterday, will be primarily about Adrian Gonzalez in the Red Sox' universe. Gonzalez will be introduced in an 11 a.m. press conference in Fenway Park, and colleague Michael Silverman will have details from there.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, SOX & Dawgs, Inside the D-backs and NESN.com
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Red Sox complete Gonzalez deal — Report: Slugger will receive eight-year, $167m extension — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It was a day of “it's on, it's off.” A day of fan frustration ended on a high note last night when, according to a major league source, the Red Sox acquired slugging …
Discussion:
Associated Press, SawxBlog, The Soxaholix, Boston Globe and baseballmusings.com
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
The Padres' Perspective on Trading Adrian Gonzalez — ORLANDO, Fla. — We know why the Boston Red Sox wanted to trade for Adrian Gonzalez. That part is obvious to the man who traded him. — “I think he's going to be unbelievable in Fenway Park,” said San Diego Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer, a former Red Sox assistant.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Adrian Gonzalez
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SOX & Dawgs, Gaslamp Ball, Red Sox Monster, sox1fan.com, MLBDEPTHCHARTS and Over the Monster
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Gonzalez-to-Red Sox deal off for now
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Ducksnorts and baseballmusings.com
JSOnline:
Brewers trade for Marcum (updated) — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — UPDATE: A SOURCE IN CANADA JUST TOLD ME THAT MINOR LEAGUE 2B BRETT LAWRIE IS IN THE DEAL FOR MARCUM. HE IS LISTED BY BASEBALL AMERICA AS THE BREWERS' TOP MINOR LEAGUE PROSPECT.
Discussion:
Baseball America, FanGraphs Baseball, Bluebird Banter, U.S.S. Mariner and The Crawfish Boxes
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Associated Press:
Blue Jays trade Marcum to Brewers
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and FanGraphs Baseball
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Acquire Shaun Marcum
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, Al's Ramblings and NESN.com
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Pre-winter meetings Rangers-related rumors on Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke
Discussion:
Toronto Sun, MLB.com, Lone Star Ball and Royals Review
Baseball Hall of Fame:
Pat Gillick Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by Expansion Era Committee — Longtime Baseball Executive to Be Inducted in Cooperstown, July 24, 2011 — ORLANDO, FL: Pat Gillick, who built three World Series champions and has served baseball for nearly 50 years …
RELATED:
MLB:
Sources: Baltimore Orioles acquire 3B Mark Reynolds from Arizona Diamondbacks — The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a deal to obtain slugging third baseman Mark Reynolds from the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for minor league prospects, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Orioles Insider, Camden Chat and Baseball Think Factory
RELATED:
MLB.com:
O's complete deal for D-backs slugger Reynolds — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Orioles have agreed to a trade with the D-backs, pending physicals, that sends infielder Mark Reynolds to Baltimore in exchange for relievers David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. — The Orioles and D-backs have not confirmed that a deal is in place.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and Britt's Bird Watch
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Adrian Beltre Seeking Five Years, $70MM+ — Adrian Beltre's agent Scott Boras is seeking five years and north of $70MM, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports chimes in with five years, $85MM. In mid-November, SI's Jon Heyman had suggested a five-year, $90MM target.
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, Bronx Baseball Daily and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's reportedly rescind offer to Adrian Beltre
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Angels blog
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Rangers will try to solidify roster — Organization will be looking for ways to bolster club during winter meetings … ORLANDO, Fla. — A year ago, conventional wisdom had the Texas Rangers as bit players at baseball's winter meetings. After all, the team was dealing with a tight budget …
Discussion:
MLB
