Top News:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox To Sign Shane Victorino — The Red Sox remodeling project continued today, as they agreed to terms with Shane Victorino on a three-year, $39MM contract. The 32-year-old, a client of John Boggs & Associates, slipped this year to a .255/.321/.383 line for the Phillies and Dodgers, but still did well in free agency.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Boston Globe, HardballTalk, Over the Monster and Getting Blanked
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Red Sox, Angels in on Lohse — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Angels and Red Sox have emerged as two of the suitors for star free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse. — Lohse, like Anibal Sanchez, is likely to wait for the market setter, Zack Greinke, to sign first. He'd should fit the Angels …
Discussion:
Full Count, Boston Globe, Metsblog, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Shane Victorino, Boston Red Sox agree to $39 million contract — source — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Boston Red Sox agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Shane Victorino on Tuesday. — Victorino, who is on a snorkeling trip in Maui, confirmed on his Twitter account that he has joined the rapidly rebuilding Red Sox.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Dodgers' flirtation with Zack Greinke puts rest of pitching free-agent market on hold
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Mike Digiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels have interest in free-agent reliever Sean Burnett
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rays Close To Deal For Yunel Escobar — The Rays are close to a deal with the Marlins for shortstop Yunel Escobar, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. Knobler says middle infield prospect Derek Dietrich will go to Miami. — Escobar, a 30-year-old Cuban, hit .253/.300/.344 in 608 plate appearances for the Blue Jays this year.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, In No Way Affiliated … and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Report: Yunel Escobar ready to move on from Miami Marlins — Yunel Escobar has resigned himself to the fact he won't be suiting up for the Miami Marlins, and he doesn't mind one bit. Escobar told El Nuevo Herald he's better off playing elsewhere. — At this week's Winter Meetings …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Fish Tank blog and Getting Blanked
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's in talks regarding shortstop Escobar
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Fish Stripes, MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Dale Sveum shot by Robin Yount — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum was accidentally hit in the ear with shrapnel while hunting this offseason with Hall of Famer Robin Yount. — The two were hunting quail in Arizona when Yount bagged a bird, but also Sveum.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Sveum shrugs off being shot in ear by Yount during hunting trip — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dale Sveum apparently was the victim of a Cubbie occurrence recently when he was accidentally shot in the right ear during a quail hunting trip with old pal Robin Yount. — “He got the bird,” Sveum said.
Discussion:
New York Times and JSOnline
Fox Sports:
Rangers pursuing Hamilton, Greinke — At this point, it will be an upset if the Texas Rangers do not land one of the top two free agents. — Could be outfielder Josh Hamilton. Could be right-hander Zack Greinke. Could be neither, likely will not be both.
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Source: Yanks insured for most of A-Rod deal — If Alex Rodriguez is unable to play in 2013, or in a worst-case scenario is forced to retire because of the hip injury that will require surgery next month, it would not be a total loss for the Yankees. — At least not financially.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
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Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards set to offer Bengie Molina a coaching position — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — • The Cardinals search for an assistant hitting coach is expected to end soon with a member of the team's extended family ready to join Mike Matheny's staff.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Viva El Birdos
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Pagan, Napoli deals kick off action in Nashville — As the first day of the Winter Meetings — typically a bit quiet with baseball's movers and shakers just arriving in town and getting settled into their suites — came to an end Monday, it gave way to what figures to be a more lively session: The first night of the Winter Meetings.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, AZ Snake Pit and The Soxaholix
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Good morning from the Winter Meetings
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Over the Monster and CBSSports.com Sports News …
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians looking for high return on any Asdrubal Cabrera deal — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If the Indians are going to trade shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, they're going to try and get everything they can for him. — The going price on the Indians' two-time All-Star is three to four players, preferably four.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Latest on OF Market: Jason Kubel drawing heavy trade interest
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Rob Biertempfel / Bucco Blog:
Latest from the lobby — NASHVILLE — This afternoon, I heard in the lobby that the Pirates continued to explore a possible trade that would send first baseman Garrett Jones to the Mariners, but apparently made little progress. The latest report I've heard is that the Pirates were rebuffed …
Discussion:
MLB Prospect Watch, Getting Blanked, Mariners blog and Bucs Dugout
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Agree To Sign Dan Haren — The Nationals have reached an agreement to sign Dan Haren, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The deal will be for one year and $13MM, pending a physical. Haren is represented by CAA Sports. — Haren hit free agency after a trade …
