Top News:
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.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' first-base focus likely shifts to LaRoche — Team's top target at position Pena appears headed to Chicago — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Nationals continue to look for a first baseman and starting pitcher. — Two executives outside the Nationals' organization believed the club …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Sports Illustrated, Nationals Baseball and Federal Baseball
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Garza, Konerko, Ordonez on Rangers' radar — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rangers are still talking to the Royals about pitcher Zack Greinke, and they have interest in pitcher Matt Garza if the Rays are truly motivated in moving him. — The Rangers know that Paul Konerko may no longer be assured of returning to the White Sox.
Discussion:
Postcards from Elysian Fields, Lone Star Ball and MLB Rumors
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs appear close to deal with Pena — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Cubs may have found their next first baseman in Carlos Pena. — The Cubs continued discussions late Tuesday at the Winter Meetings with representatives for the free agent, and the team expected to hear more early Wednesday.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Rumors
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Cubs, Carlos Pena Agree To Terms — Carlos Pena and the Cubs have agreed to terms on a one-year deal believed to be worth $10MM. — Pena, 33 next May, saw his average slip below the Mendoza Line in 2010, totaling a line of .196/.325/.407. While the average and strikeout rate (32.6%) …
Fox Sports:
Cubs add free agent Carlos Pena — 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. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Cubs came to the winter meetings intending to address only a few issues.
Discussion:
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:
ESPN, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Texas Rangers and NESN.com
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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:
HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Lee talks move at snail's pace
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, ESPN, Full Count and Texas Rangers
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Sources: Dodgers, Tony Gwynn agree — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new contract with free-agent outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., two sources confirmed Tuesday on the condition of anonymity. — The two sides agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Ned Colletti says ruling in McCourts court case won't tie his hands — Dodgers general manager drives home the point by reaching agreements on one-year deals with free agents Tony Gwynn Jr. and Vicente Padilla. — Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti says the McCourt divorce will not have an impact …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets add DJ Carrasco and Ronny Paulino, but under Sandy Alderson club is viewed as hot-stove joke — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - On the day that a trustee seeking to recover money on behalf of Bernie Madoff's victims sued Fred Wilpon, a National League executive who met with the Mets this week smirked …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Public Sniping in Talks Left Jeter Feeling Angry — TAMPA, Fla. — The news conference had just ended. Television spotlights fell dark, and reporters dispersed. Derek Jeter still lingered behind a podium, where Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, a general partner of the Yankees, wrapped him in a lengthy embrace.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, BronxBanterBlog.com and MLB.com
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Derek Jeter press conference
Discussion:
TYU, HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox have more shopping left — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — After the huge splash that was the Adrian Gonzalez trade, do not be surprised if the Red Sox stand pat through the end of the winter meetings tomorrow, while carefully plotting their next move. — What we know is that the Sox …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com and Fenway West
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Gary Sheffield, Johnny Damon say they'd like to play for Tampa Bay Rays — LAKE BUENA VISTA — The Rays are looking for a couple of hitters, and there's a pair of proven veterans looking to join them. — Both Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield said Tuesday night they are interested in signing with the Rays.
RELATED:
Steve Kornacki / MLive.com:
Ex-Tiger Gary Sheffield says Tampa Bay Rays are his top choice …
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
George A. King III / New York Post:
Sabathia won't opt out — Tweet — TAMPA — CC Sabathia said whatever Cliff Lee pulls down won't lead to the Yankees' ace exercising an opt out clause in his contract after next year. — “It has no effect on me at all,” Sabathia told The Post yesterday when asked if Lee's projected windfall …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and NESN.com
David Lennon / Newsday:
On the Mets beat — Beltran to Red Sox gaining traction? — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Now it looks like the Mets might find a taker for Carlos Beltran after all. The idea of trading Beltran to the Red Sox began as a slight ripple Tuesday morning here at the Dolphin Resort.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors, Full Count and NESN.com
Sports Illustrated:
Setting the record straight on Hall of Fame vote for Miller … (Editor's note: The following story by Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci is a response to the erroneous report about yesterday's Hall of Fame Expansion Era voting.) — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
CBSSports.com:
Iwakuma's agent says A's were ‘insincere’ with client — CBSSports.com wire reports — SENDAI, Japan — The agent for Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma says the Oakland Athletics were insincere after his client was unable to reach an agreement with the major-league team.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
