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).
RELATED:
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:
The Big Lead, Full Count, Surviving Grady, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Fanhouse MLB Blog and The Joy of Sox
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, Full Count, Mike Silva's …, NESN.com, River Avenue Blues, The Nationals Enquirer and New Jersey Online
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:
ESPN.com, Fox Sports, DRaysBay, NESN.com, sox1fan.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, HardballTalk, Mike Silva's … and Texas Rangers
RELATED:
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, MLB Rumors and FishStripes
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
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
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Rule 5 Buzz Builds
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, MLB Rumors, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and Brew Crew Ball
ESPN:
Steve Garvey says he has group interested in buying Los Angeles Dodgers — Former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey says he has put together an investment group interested in buying the team, the Los Angeles Times reported. — The future of the Dodgers was thrown into doubt …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and espnW
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Steve Garvey as would-be suitor for Dodgers
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
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 and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Russell Martin / Yahoo! Sports:
The numbers behind Martin's Dodger departure
Discussion:
NESN.com and Boston Globe
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
