Top News:
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays wrap Day 2 by acquiring Escobar from Marlins — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Everybody attending the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is convinced that the Rays will trade one of their coveted starting pitchers. — But they did not do so on Tuesday, instead sending Minor League …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, FanGraphs Baseball and Bluebird Banter
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays promote Jamie Nelson to assist hitting coach Derek Shelton — NASHVILLE — As the Rays struggled offensively during the season, fans and talk-show callers had all kinds of suggestions for hitting coach Derek Shelton. — Tuesday, the Rays got him some help.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and DRaysBay
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Report: Yunel Escobar ready to move on from Miami Marlins
Discussion:
Baseball America, HardballTalk, Getting Blanked and Fish Tank blog
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Yunel Escobar's change of heart prompted Marlins trade
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rays Close To Deal For Yunel Escobar
Discussion:
DRaysBay, Fish Stripes, MLB Daily Dish and In No Way Affiliated …
Baseball America:
2013 Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospects … With nine games to go in the regular season, the Rangers had the best record in the American League and looked poised to make a run to their third straight American League pennant. But when Texas lost seven of its final nine contests …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Fox Sports:
Rangers pursuing Hamilton, Greinke
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Time in Arlington and Postcards From Elysian Fields
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Nationals get Dan Haren for one year at $13 million
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Twinkie Town
Fox Sports:
Will meetings produce a blockbuster? — A blockbuster could be in the works. — A variety of three-, four- and even five-team trades are in play at the winter meetings, mostly involving the same clubs and same principal players, according to major-league sources. — The clubs: Arizona, Cleveland, Texas and Tampa Bay.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com Sports News …, HardballTalk, Red Sox Monster, MLB Daily Dish, Full Count and Sporting News Feed RSS
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians, D-backs talk Asdrubal-for-Bauer swap
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Justin Upton Rumors: Wednesday
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, Baseball Nation and HardballTalk
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Rangers talks with Josh Hamilton said ‘on hold’ at moment — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rangers have been talking to Josh Hamilton, but one source suggested talks are “on hold” at the moment. — It is believed the holdup may have to do with the Rangers' spirited efforts to land top free-agent starter Zack Greinke.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Shane Victorino, Boston Red Sox agree to $39 million contract — source
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster, ESPN.com, MLB Daily Dish, ESPN.com, baseballmusings.com and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Shane Victorino gives Sox outfield flexibility
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and Associated Press
ESPN:
Source: Jeff Keppinger to White Sox — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a three-year, $12 million deal with free-agent infielder Jeff Keppinger, a source told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine. — The move likely signals the end of Kevin Youkilis' White Sox career …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
White Sox To Sign Jeff Keppinger — Jeff Keppinger greatly improved his stock in 2012, going from a non-tender a year ago to a three-year, $12MM contract with the White Sox today. A break in Keppinger's right fibula suffered last month didn't deter his suitors, which also included the Yankees, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Cubs.
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Bucs Dugout
Baseball Hall of Fame:
Tom Cheek Named 2013 Ford C. Frick Award Winner for Broadcasting Excellence — Legendary Blue Jays Voice Will Be Honored at July 26-29 Hall of Fame Weekend — (COOPERSTOWN, NY) - Tom Cheek, who called the first 4,306 regular-season and 41 postseason games in Toronto Blue Jays history …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Batter's Box Interactive …
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Pirates acquire versatile pitcher Oliver from Tigers — Bucs send catching prospect Cabrera to Detroit for Minors left-hander — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Pirates got into the Winter Meetings trade action in a “Minor” way on Wednesday, acquiring left-hander Andrew Oliver from Detroit in exchange for catcher Ramon Cabrera.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
David Wright proud to return to Mets — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — None of the most notable players in New York Mets history has played his entire career with the franchise. — Tom Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds midway through 1977, while en route to a 21-win season.
Discussion:
Metsblog and Amazin' Avenue
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Orioles, McLouth agree to one-year pact — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Orioles have agreed to terms on a one-year deal for outfielder Nate McLouth, according to an industry source. — Baltimore had steady dialogue with McLouth's agent, Mike Nicotera, and manager Buck Showalter spoke on the phone …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Camden Chat
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins don't seem enthusiastic about Carl Pavano reunion, but never say never — Dave Pepe, the agent for pitcher Carl Pavano, spoke to the Marlins yesterday, but there's no indication on how those talks went. — One Marlins source didn't seem enthusiastic about the team taking a chance on Pavano …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Winter Meetings: Cards bow out on Burnett — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — • The Cardinals' pursuit of a lefty reliever has peeled away from the pitcher considered the best of the remaining available free agents in his class.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Fredi Gonzalez's option exercised — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Atlanta Braves have exercised their 2014 option on the contract of manager Fredi Gonzalez. — Taking over when Bobby Cox retired after the 2010 season, Gonzalez has managed the Braves to a 183-141 record.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Acquire Wilton Lopez — The Rockies added a late-inning reliever today, acquiring Wilton Lopez and a player to be named later or cash from the Astros for starter Alex White and minor leaguer Alex Gillingham, the teams announced. — Lopez, 29, very nearly joined the Phillies …
Discussion:
Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and The Crawfish Boxes
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies acquire Houston reliever Wilton Lopez for starter Alex White
Discussion:
MLB.com and FanGraphs Baseball
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Sveum, Yount involved in freak hunting accident — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Don't expect Robin Yount to be added to Cubs manager Dale Sveum's staff. The Hall of Famer accidentally shot his former Brewers teammate in the right ear while hunting quail in Arizona.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Sveum shrugs off being shot in ear by Yount during hunting trip
Discussion:
New York Times, Yahoo! Sports, Baseball Nation and JSOnline
