Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
12:15 PM ET, December 8, 2010

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Agent: Nationals still pursuing Carl Pavano  —  After twice meeting with Carl Pavano's representative this week, the Nationals “are still in the mix” to sign the veteran right-hander, agent Tom O'Connell said this morning.  Pavano, who will turn 35 in January, arrived yesterday at the winter meetings …
Discussion: MLB Rumors
RELATED:
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
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 …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals exploring front-line starter options
Discussion: The Knobler Blog and MLB Rumors
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:   Harris among options for Nats' bench
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Sign Carlos Pena  —  Carlos Pena and the Cubs have officially agreed to terms on a one-year deal believed to be worth $10MM, some of which is deferred.  —  Pena, 33 next May, saw his average slip below the Mendoza Line in 2010, totaling a line of .196/.325/.407.
RELATED:
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.
Fox Sports:
Cubs add free agent Carlos Pena
Discussion: Full Count
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 …
Discussion: Tedquarters
RELATED:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets said to reach deals with Carrasco, Paulino  —  Reliever agrees on two-year pact; catcher signs on for one  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In a move to fill out their near-vacant bullpen, the Mets have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free-agent reliever D.J. Carrasco, a baseball source said Tuesday evening.
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue and Tedquarters
Newsday:
Ken Davidoff's baseball insider
Discussion: New York Post
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 …
RELATED:
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.
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 …
RELATED:
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
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Garza, 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.  —  Vladimir Guerrero is their first choice to be their DH in 2011, but only on a one-year deal.
RELATED:
Dallas Morning News:
Cowlishaw: It's better to overpay for Cliff Lee than let him go to the Yankees  —  I don't make a habit of writing things that I am told “off the record.”  No one in this business does for very long.  —  But when it's this juicy, this good, I just have to make an exception.
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.
RELATED:
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
After the anger, Jeter smiles and moves forward
Discussion: Subway Squawkers and THE BOOK
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Ken Davidoff's baseball insider
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
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.
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Ned Colletti says ruling in McCourts court case won't tie his hands
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
White Sox Re-Sign Paul Konerko  —  The White Sox reached an agreement with first baseman Paul Konerko on a three-year deal, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  The deal is worth $37.5MM, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  The contract includes deferred money, as outlined by MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Determining Interest In Nolasco, Nunez  —  The Marlins are gauging interest in Ricky Nolasco and Leo Nunez, though they aren't committed to trading either pitcher, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Nolasco is two years away from free agency and was discussing …
RELATED:
Clark Spencer / Fish Bytes:
Marlins Gauging Interest in Nolasco and Nunez
Discussion: HardballTalk and FishStripes
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 …
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: The Big Lead and HardballTalk
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Answer Man: Luke Scott talks Nugent, hunting and Obama origin  —  stopped by baseball's winter meetings Tuesday and, after some harmless chatter about his team's offseason dealings, stated with conviction that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.  —  Oh, yes, he did.
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Deferred money in Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo's contract  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It's becoming clear that the Reds are operating with a tight budget.  —  A good portion of Bronson Arroyo's salary for 2011 is deferred.  —  Arroyo was set to make $13 million under the option that the club picked up.
Discussion: Red Reporter
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.
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 12:15 PM ET, December 8, 2010.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Yahoo! Sports:
Seven years is right for Cliff Lee
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The manager weighs in on some topics
Discussion: SawxBlog and FenwayNationWorld
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Gary Sheffield, Johnny Damon say they'd like to play for Tampa Bay Rays
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Documentary on McKeon wins Emmy Award
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards hasten pursuit of backup catcher
Discussion: MLB Rumors
 Earlier Picks: 
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Close To Signing Wil Nieves
Discussion: JSOnline
AdamMcCalvy / Brew Beat:
Melvin still on hunt for pitching
Ed Price / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Rays Motivated to Trade Matt Garza
Discussion: MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Caroline Graham / Daily Mail:
Thomas Markle loses his leg: Meghan's father has amputation surgery in Philippines - and he faces ANOTHER operation to save his life

Reuters:
American playwright Jeremy O. Harris arrested in Japan on alleged drug smuggling

Nicolai Ouroussoff / New York Times:
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page