Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals exploring front-line starter options — Greinke not an option; Garza might be target if he's available — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Count the Nationals out as far as acquiring Royals right-hander Zack Greinke, according to a baseball source. — The Royals felt the Nationals …
RELATED:
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Take a deep breath on Cliff Lee to the Nationals — There has been some serious buzz this morning about the Nationals throwing an enormous contract at Cliff Lee, culminating with a report by the New York Daily News that the Nationals will offer a seven-year contract that the New York Yankees would not match.
Discussion:
NATS INSIDER, HardballTalk, MLB.com, The Nationals Enquirer, MLB Rumors, USA Today, MetsBlog.com, ESPN, River Avenue Blues and Babes Love Baseball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Harris among options for Nats' bench — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Entering the offseason, Albert Gonzalez and Mike Morse were the only reserves expected to return to the Nationals next season. — There is a chance outfielder Willie Harris could return to the club.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Beltre to Nationals an unfounded rumor — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There was a rumor circulating at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday that the Nationals have interest in third baseman Adrian Beltre, but it turned out to be just a rumor. Washington already has a third baseman in Ryan Zimmerman.
The Knobler Blog:
Nationals inquire on Greinke
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, HardballTalk and Full Count
Fox Sports:
Rangers looking to clear payroll — 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. — Jon Paul Morosi — This is getting interesting. — The Rangers are listening to trade offers …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers, NESN.com and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Lee talks move at snail's pace — 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. — Bob Klapisch — The Cliff Lee negotiations, at least from the Yankees' perspective, are moving at a snail's pace.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, ESPN, Full Count and Texas Rangers
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Ryan: Michael Young not being shopped — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There's a difference between actively trying to move a player and listening when his name comes up in talks with other teams. — Rangers president Nolan Ryan says his team isn't doing the former when it comes to third baseman Michael Young.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Lee likely to get seven-year offer
Discussion:
New York Post, The LoHud Yankees Blog, NATS INSIDER, Postcards from Elysian Fields, Pinstripe Alley, BronxBanterBlog.com, ESPN, Federal Baseball, Bronx Baseball Daily, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Baseball Time in Arlington, Mike Silva's …, Projo Sox Blog, Full Count, NoMaas.org, Texas Rangers, Bats, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Cashman meets with “everybody, basically”
Discussion:
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … and TYU
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Red Sox interested in Carlos Beltran — Carlos Beltran and free-agent outfielders Josh Willingham and Magglio Ordonez are all being considered by the Red Sox, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. — Updated at 1:31 pm: — The Red Sox consider Beltran 'a secondary option if other alternatives fall apart …
Discussion:
ESPN, Boston Globe, Mets Merized Online, NESN.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Sean McAdam / Comcast SportsNet:
Source: Red Sox interested in signing Ordonez
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk, Twinkie Town, Red Sox Monster, Bless You Boys, NESN.com, MLB Rumors, New York Post and Full Count
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Gammons: Red Sox “continue to talk to Mets” about Beltran
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, Mets Merized Online, Clubhouse Insider and NESN.com
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Is Rich Harden a starter or reliever? — At this time last year, Rich Harden was one of the most-talked-about free-agent starting pitchers. — One poor season later - a 5.58 ERA in fewer than 100 innings with Texas - it's not clear whether Harden's future is in the rotation or bullpen.
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
At Least Seven Teams Checked In On Rich Harden — The Yankees, Twins, Rays, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Mariners, and Rockies have checked in on free agent righty Rich Harden, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi says some teams like Harden as a starter, others as a reliever.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and JSOnline
Los Angeles Times:
Judge rules in favor of Jamie McCourt in Dodgers ownership struggle — The decision denying Frank McCourt's claim to sole ownership of the team is not expected to immediately affect day-to-day operations. He may use other legal strategies to challenge his ex-wife's case.
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Derek Jeter press conference — NOTE: The press conference will break up into smaller groups, so I'll be back later with more from Jeter, Girardi and Cashman. — 2:45: Jeter on who he was angry with: “I'm not going to point the finger at anyone. As you can see now, we're one big happy family.”
Discussion:
TYU, HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Jeter Says Contract Talks Made Him Angry
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Reach Agreement With Ty Wigginton — The Rockies continued their active offseason today, this time adding a bat to their bench in the form of Ty Wigginton. Wigginton received a two-year, $8MM deal with an option for 2013, which is steep compared to Eric Hinske's one-year, $1.35MM deal.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, U.S.S. Mariner and Angels blog
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
Wigginton won't return to O's, agrees to terms with Colorado Rockies
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jay Jaffe / Futility Infielder Blog:
The Call-Up — Oy vey, it's been far too long since I updated this space, easily my longest stretch of silence here in over nine years of blogging. Needless to say, I've been extremely busy, delivering content for Baseball Prospectus and Pinstriped Bible through the postseason …
Discussion:
Replacement Level … and Red Sox Beacon
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks no longer trying to deal Justin Upton — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Three weeks ago, he was the most talked about trade chip at the annual general managers' meetings. But by Tuesday, it was all but official: Justin Upton isn't going anywhere.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Mariners blog
Ed Price / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Rays Motivated to Trade Matt Garza — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rays are motivated to deal right-hander Matt Garza, a source told FanHouse Tuesday. — The Texas Rangers are one team that is interested in Garza, particularly if free-agent left-hander Cliff Lee opts to sign with the Yankees …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Jim Tracy of Colorado Rockies collapsed due to mild arrhythmia — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Colorado Rockies say manager Jim Tracy has been released from a hospital after mild arrhythmia caused him to collapse at the baseball winter meetings. — Tracy — Tracy was headed back to his home near Bradenton on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussion:
MLB, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Full Count and Chicago Breaking Sports
