Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Agree To Sign Carl Crawford — The Red Sox started the Winter Meetings with a splash and they won't leave before making another blockbuster addition. Boston has agreed to a seven-year, $142MM deal with Carl Crawford, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox agree to terms with Crawford — A Major League source has told the Globe the deal is for seven years and $142 million. — More to come. — UPDATE, 12:28 a.m. The deal came to fruition late tonight according to a Major Source with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
Discussion:
Full Count, Surviving Grady, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Fanhouse MLB Blog and The Joy of Sox
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Sources: Cubs targeting Matt Garza — Officials from the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs met for the second time during the Winter Meetings on Wednesday night to discuss the parameters of a trade that would send right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago for a number of the Cubs' top prospects, according to multiple sources.
Discussion:
DRaysBay, MetsBlog.com, Full Count, MLB and MLB Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / mlbbuzz:
Do we have our mystery team? — Before signing Carl Crawford, the Red Sox may have engaged in some good old-fashioned negotiating hijinks. — It would be just like the Sox to throw a monkey wrench into the Yankees' attempt to sign Cliff Lee — And this little stunt, if it indeed happened, would have qualified.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Mike Silva's …, The Nationals Enquirer, NESN.com, River Avenue Blues, New Jersey Online and Full Count
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Sox sign up Crawford for $142m — Seven-year contract lands top position player on market — New Red Sox Gold Glove left fielder Carl Crawford is Tampa Bay's career leader in batting average, doubles, triples, stolen bases, and runs. (Ezra Shaw/File/Getty Images)
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs, The House That Dewey Built and YFSF
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
LAA to eventually land Carl Crawford? … LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Two sources close to Carl Crawford said they expect the free-agent outfielder eventually to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. — Multiple high-ranking baseball sources said Tuesday they expect Crawford to end up in Anaheim.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, sox1fan.com, DRaysBay, NESN.com, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Associated Press
ESPN:
Source: Red Sox to ink Carl Crawford — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona called left-fielder Carl Crawford a game-changer. Turns out he may have been guilty of understatement. — Between the multitalented Crawford, who came to terms Wednesday night on a seven-year …
Discussion:
It's About The Money and MLB
Associated Press:
Crawford Gets $142M Deal With Red Sox
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Boston Globe
Fox Sports:
Source: Yanks make formal offer to 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. — Get ready. — Cliff Lee, the biggest prize on this year's free-agent market …
Discussion:
New York Post, Mike Silva's …, HardballTalk and Texas Rangers
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Fox Sports:
Marlins attempted trade for Greinke — 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 Zack Greinke talk just keeps getting hotter.
Discussion:
Full Count, FishStripes and MLB Rumors
Jim Salisbury / CSNPhilly.com:
Shooting for the moon, Amaro considers Greinke
Discussion:
New York Post, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight, The700Level.com and Full Count
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Royals getting in on the winter fun — Melky Cabrera will be back in the AL again after signing with Kansas City.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, Royals Review, BronxBanterBlog.com, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
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Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Clubs seek diamond in rough in Rule 5 Draft — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In a perfect world, teams would take the relatively low risk of making a selection in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft and uncover a Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton, Joakim Soria or Dan Uggla. — But while the Rule 5 Draft …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Bleed Cubbie Blue, By Gosh, It's Langosch and AZ Snakepit
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Buzz Builds
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and Brew Crew Ball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals believe Winn would fit on bench — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Looking to strengthen their bench, the Nationals may show interest in outfielder Randy Winn, according to a baseball source. — Some members of the Nationals believe that Winn, 36, will accept a role off the bench.
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Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Source: Dodgers, Dioner Navarro close — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In a development that probably eliminates any chance two-time All-Star and former Gold Glove catcher Russell Martin will remain with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the club is close to a one-year agreement with the catcher Martin replaced …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, Full Count, DRaysBay, HardballTalk and espnW
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies look to lock up CarGo — Monfort says the team is willing to sign star outfielder to a new long-term deal — ORLANDO, Fla. — The Rockies are willing to give Carlos Gonzalez an unprecedented contract for a player with barely two big-league seasons on his resume.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Jonah / JonahKeri.com:
The Voice of My Childhood Is Hall-of-Fame-Bound — A thousand plagues of locusts couldn't wipe the smile off my face today. Not after the news that Dave Van Horne, the voice of the Montreal Expos for the first 32 years of their existence and the radio voice of the Florida Marlins for a decade since, is headed to the Hall of Fame:
Discussion:
FishStripes, Fanhouse MLB Blog and THE BOOK
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
It's 10 weeks and counting for Cardinals — That's the time span St. Louis has to extend Albert Pujols' contract ... or risk losing him — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — He isn't The Story of these winter meetings. But Albert Pujols' time on the grand contract stage is coming.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
