Top News:
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:
HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians, D-backs talk Asdrubal-for-Bauer swap — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indians and the D-backs have discussed the framework of a deal that centers around Tribe shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and Arizona right-hander Trevor Bauer, an industry source said early Wednesday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
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.
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Time in Arlington and Postcards From Elysian Fields
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Greinke sets pitching market — How much does Zack Greinke want, from which team? A waiting market wonders … NASHVILLE — One of these days, in a transactions column near you, Zack Greinke will get around to picking his next employer. — It might be this week. It might be next week.
RELATED:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Nationals get Dan Haren for one year at $13 million — Angels make a last-ditch effort to re-sign the right-hander, but they remain in the running for Zack Greinke. — Free agent right-hander Dan Haren agreed to terms a one-year, $13-million contract with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Los Angeles Times
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Red Sox, Angels in on Lohse
Red Sox, Angels in on Lohse
Discussion:
Full Count, Boston Globe, Metsblog, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Dodgers' flirtation with Zack Greinke puts rest of pitching free-agent market on hold
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
Angels have interest in free-agent reliever Sean Burnett
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and MLB Daily Dish
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:
Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs Baseball, Over the Monster, HardballTalk, Boston Globe, WEEI, Metsblog, Red Sox Monster and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Victorino, Red Sox agree on $39M deal
Victorino, Red Sox agree on $39M deal
Discussion:
ESPN.com and baseballmusings.com
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Shane Victorino gives Sox outfield flexibility
Shane Victorino gives Sox outfield flexibility
Discussion:
Associated Press and Surviving Grady
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Good morning from the Winter Meetings
Good morning from the Winter Meetings
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Over the Monster
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Pagan, Napoli deals kick off action in Nashville
Pagan, Napoli deals kick off action in Nashville
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Over the Monster, Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue and AZ Snake Pit
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, Baseball Nation, Yahoo! Sports and JSOnline
RELATED:
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.
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, Getting Blanked and Fish Tank blog
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Yunel Escobar's change of heart prompted Marlins trade — The Marlins' trade of shortstop Yunel Escobar to Tampa late tonight culminated a move that started recently when Escobar informed Miami of his “change of heart” about playing third base. — “When Yunel had this change of heart …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rays Close To Deal For Yunel Escobar
Rays Close To Deal For Yunel Escobar
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, DRaysBay, In No Way Affiliated … and Baseball Nation
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's in talks regarding shortstop Escobar
A's in talks regarding shortstop Escobar
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Nation, Over the Monster and HardballTalk
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:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
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:
Viva El Birdos and HardballTalk
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
RELATED:
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Latest on OF Market: Jason Kubel drawing heavy trade interest — The Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, Rays and Mariners could all be in on a trade for Diamondbacks OF Jason Kubel (FOX Sports). — Speaking of the Diamondbacks, while they're aggressively shopping Justin Upton, no team is willing to deal a top shortstop (USA Today).
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians looking for high return on any Asdrubal Cabrera deal
Cleveland Indians looking for high return on any Asdrubal Cabrera deal
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors