Top News:
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Braulio Lara, Jose Dominguez Lead Rule 5 Buzz — NASHVILLE—A relatively placid day during the Winter Meetings on Wednesday gives way to what should be a much more active Thursday. — Most fans are hoping for a free-agent signing by their team or to be involved in a trade involving Justin Upton.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Bless You Boys, Twinkie Town, AZ Snake Pit and Minor League Ball
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox could lose players in Rule 5 Draft — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The annual Rule 5 Draft of veteran minor leaguers will be this morning. The Red Sox have the seventh pick if they care to use it. — Any player selected must remain on the major league roster all season or be offered back to his original team.
MLB.com:
2012 Rule 5 Draft results — Results of the 2012 Rule 5 Draft: — Acquiring teams in bold; former organizations in parentheses — Major League Phase — HOU: Josh Fields, RHP (BOS) CHC: Hector Rondon, RHP (CLE) COL: Daniel Rosenbaum, LHP (WAS) MIN: Ryan Pressly, RHP (BOS) CLE …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Bucco Blog and Bucs Dugout
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Rule 5 Draft offers final chance at fruitful Meetings — At the end of the Winter Meetings comes an event that might seem as niche as they come. And yet all 30 teams, as well as scores of players, will be paying close attention Thursday morning. — The Rule 5 Draft commences at 10 …
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com and 1500 ESPN SportsWire
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Mets select LHP Kyle Lobstein in Rule 5 Draft, traded to Tigers for cash — The MLB Rule 5 draft was held this morning at 10 am in Nashville as the final official order of business at the MLB Winter Meetings. — The Mets selected LHP Kyle Lobstein from the Rays' Triple-A Roster …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
Geoff Baker / Mariners blog:
Mariners said to still be very much in the running for Josh Hamilton — The Mariners and Josh Hamilton are said to be “very close” to a deal, depending on what happens first between free agent pitcher Zack Greinke and the Texas Rangers. Photo Credit: AP — It once seemed like Josh Hamilton …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Halos Heaven, Getting Blanked, MLB Daily Dish and Baseball Nation
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Evan Grant / Texas Rangers Blog:
Sources: Rangers involved in advanced talks with Phillies about possible Michael Young trade — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Rangers haven't really gotten anywhere on their big free-agent targets. And complicated pie-in-the-sky trade scenarios haven't really gained traction.
Fox Sports:
Pursuit of Upton driving blockbuster talks — Texas badly wants Justin Upton, according to major-league sources. Arizona, seeking a shortstop, is focused on Asdrubal Cabrera. — The goals of those two clubs are driving talk of three- and four-team blockbusters at the winter meetings …
Discussion:
Metsblog and MLB Daily Dish
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Phillies Acquire Revere, Worley and May To Twins — The Phillies will not leave the Winter Meetings empty handed. — Multiple sources confirmed to MLB.com this morning the Phillies have acquired outfielder Ben Revere in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. Right-hander Vance Worley …
Gerry Fraley / Texas Rangers Blog:
More Rangers headed to Boston: Koji Uehara agrees to one-year deal with Red Sox — Free agent right-hander Koji Uehara spurned the Texas Rangers on Thursday and agreed to a one-year deal with Boston on Thursday. The contract is contingent on a Uehara passing a physical.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Red Sox Monster, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets have not met R.A. Dickey's asking price as negotiation process is still ongoing — Jeff Wilpon reiterated earlier comments that the Mets were willing to allow Dickey to simply play out next season on the pre-existing $5 million club option, and become a free agent.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Amazin' Avenue
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
David Wright proud to return to Mets
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees looking to trade Curtis Granderson to free up payroll: source — Granderson, who turns 32 in March, will surely be looking for a huge payday when he reaches free agency next season, though the Yankees will already be looking to re-sign Robinson Cano and may still have to pay Derek Jeter, who has a $9.5 million option for 2014.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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 …
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Third year blocking Dempster deal
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Rumors, FanGraphs Baseball and Metsblog
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:
South Side Sox and MLB Rumors
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
White Sox To Sign Jeff Keppinger
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Bucs Dugout
