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:
Baseball Prospectus, Viva El Birdos, Hardball Times, Bless You Boys, Boston Globe, Twinkie Town, AZ Snake Pit and Minor League Ball
RELATED:
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
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:
Bucco Blog, Baseball Prospectus and Bucs Dugout
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Mets select LHP Kyle Lobstein in Rule 5 Draft, traded to Tigers for cash
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
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:
Over the Monster, Boston Globe, Baseball Prospectus, Getting Blanked, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Sam Miller / Baseball Prospectus:
Koji Uehara Has Done Some Things — These aim to be spectacular factoids about Koji Uehara, who is spectacular. They feature a moderate amount of cherry-picking and sample size cheats, but not that much! All statistics except where noted are since 2010, when Uehara converted from starting to relief.
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Dodgers pessimistic about landing Greinke — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Speculation when the winter began was that the two Los Angeles-area teams would engage in a bidding war for prized free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke. It hasn't quite worked out that way so far.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, True Blue LA, HardballTalk, MLB, Associated Press and ESPN
RELATED:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers in talks with free-agent hurler Greinke — GM Colletti gives no indication a deal with righty is imminent or likely — NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed the club has graduated from due diligence to negotiating for top free-agent target Zack Greinke …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Angels add Joe Blanton, Sean Burnett
Discussion:
ESPN, Halos Heaven, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Prospectus and The Good Phight
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:
New York Post, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Halos Heaven, Getting Blanked and Baseball Nation
RELATED:
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 …
Associated Press:
Twins sign reliever Burton for 2 years, $5.5M — MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Jared Burton on a two-year, $5.5 million contract that includes a club option for the 2015 season. — The deal was worked out Thursday at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and MLB Daily Dish
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Stewart re-signs with Cubs — Phil Rogers and Mark Gonzales talk about the Cubs and White Sox Rule 5 draft picks. — Third baseman Ian Stewart agreed to a one-year deal Thursday to return to the Cubs. — Stewart will earn $2 million with $500,000 in incentives.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals' payroll pinch tighter than previously believed — NASHVILLE, TENN. — Royals owner David Glass created a stir recently in revealing $70 million to be the budgeted break-even point for the club's 2013 payroll. — Well, the financial pinch is a lot tighter than initially believed.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Fox Sports:
Yankees uncharacteristically thrifty — Where the hell are the Yankees? — Not at the winter meetings. At least, not in any place where there is news other than a 37-year-old third baseman breaking down. — Oh, the Yankees will tell you they have their pitching in order …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
