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
Discussion:
HardballTalk and DRaysBay
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Report: Yunel Escobar ready to move on from Miami Marlins
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Baseball America, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk 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 …
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
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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
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, Full Count, Sporting News Feed RSS and MLB Daily Dish
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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:
Baseball Nation, Getting Blanked and HardballTalk
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Third year blocking Dempster deal — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Nashville — The Brewers' unwillingness to offer a third year has created an impasse with free-agent pitcher Ryan Dempster. — Neither Brewers GM Doug Melvin nor Dempster's agent, Craig Landis …
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ESPN, MLB Rumors, FanGraphs Baseball and Metsblog
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Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Melvin met with agent for E-Jax, Howell — It's been a quiet Wednesday so far for the Brewers at the Winter Meetings, but GM Doug Melvin did meet with one high-powered agent, Greg Genske, though Melvin would not reveal the content of that discussion. Among Genske's free agents this winter …
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, MLB Daily Dish, ESPN.com, ESPN.com, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and baseballmusings.com
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Shane Victorino gives Sox outfield flexibility
Discussion:
Associated Press and Surviving Grady
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Nate Schierholtz — The Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Nate Schierholtz, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The deal is worth $2.25MM with $500K in incentives, adds Crasnick. Schierholtz, 29 in February, was non-tendered by the Phillies last week. He's represented by Lapa/Leventhal.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Baseball Nation
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Angels add Joe Blanton, Sean Burnett — The Los Angeles Angels added another piece to their starting rotation Wednesday, agreeing with free agent Joe Blanton on a two-year contract worth $15 million contract, according to a baseball source. — The guaranteed deal includes a club option for a third year, the source said.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Halos Heaven
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
O's bring back McLouth, out of running for Swisher — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Orioles made their first move of the Winter Meetings on Wednesday, securing a one-year, $2 million deal to bring back outfielder Nate McLouth, pending the completion of a physical.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Camden Chat
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 …
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:
Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog
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
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:
Minor League Ball and MLB Daily Dish
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.
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HardballTalk
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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
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 Rumors
