Top News:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Ellsbury getting close to a seven-year deal with the Yankees — Star free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is in serious talks with the Yankees and the sides appear to be close to reaching a seven-year deal. sources said. — The longtime Red Sox is said to be about to choose the Yankees …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Ellsbury, Yanks reportedly have seven-year deal — Contract is believed to be worth $153 million, with an option for the 2021 season — NEW YORK — Jacoby Ellsbury is ready to trade in his Red Sox for Yankees pinstripes, approaching the finish line on serious talks that are set to deliver …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Surviving Grady
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Jacoby Ellsbury contract on par with what Yankees always do - overpay — First the huge Brian McCann contract and now $153 million for the former Red Sox outfielder, who will be 37 years old by the time this latest Yankees mega contract is up. — Jacoby Ellsbury is the Yankees new center fielder …
Discussion:
ESPN, New York Post and GammonsDaily.com
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Jacoby Ellsbury, Yanks agree — Free-agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has reached agreement on a seven-year contract with the New York Yankees pending a physical exam, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — According to multiple reports, the deal will pay Ellsbury $153 million …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Full Count, River Avenue Blues and OutsidePitchMLB LLC
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Yankees Sign Jacoby Ellsbury, Bet On Speed Aging Well — You're going to hear Carl Crawford's name a lot over the next 24 hours. Carl Crawford was a speed-and-defense outfielder heading into his 30s and the Red Sox gave him $142 million over seven years, only to see the deal become an albatross almost immediately.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, New York Post, Pinstripe Alley, GammonsDaily.com, MLB Daily Dish, Deadspin, ESPN and The Strike Zone
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets, Curtis Granderson talks intensify — NEW YORK — Talks between the New York Mets and Curtis Granderson's representatives intensified late Tuesday, and a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPNNewYork.com the organization is negotiating to land the free-agent outfielder on a three-year deal.
Discussion:
Newsday, Amazin' Avenue, NY Daily News, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, OutsidePitchMLB LLC and Metsblog
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
A's acquire Gentry, Gregerson on another busy day — Oakland picks up outfielder, setup man in trades, also adds reliever Lindblom — OAKLAND — When he finally came up for breath after a 24-hour shopping binge — one of his biggest to date that netted him five players in four separate moves — Billy Beane began to laugh.
Discussion:
ESPN
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Padres, A's Swap Luke Gregerson For Seth Smith
Padres, A's Swap Luke Gregerson For Seth Smith
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and Athletics Nation
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Athletics Acquire Craig Gentry, Josh Lindblom
Athletics Acquire Craig Gentry, Josh Lindblom
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, OutsidePitchMLB LLC and Lone Star Ball
Fox Sports:
Rosenthal: On ‘second’ thought, Reds unlikely to trade Phillips — For much of the offseason, many in baseball expected the Cincinnati Reds to trade second baseman Brandon Phillips. — A deal, however, appears increasingly unlikely, according to major league sources.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds and Redleg Nation
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Rays acquire C Hanigan, RHP Bell in 3-team trade — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Catcher Ryan Hanigan and reliever Heath Bell are eager to try to help the Tampa Bay Rays get back to the playoffs. — Hanigan was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds and Bell from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three-team trade Tuesday.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Kevin Towers On Heath Bell Trade
Kevin Towers On Heath Bell Trade
Discussion:
Inside the 'Zona, AZ Snake Pit, Red Reporter and DRaysBay
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Rays Acquire Ryan Hanigan, Heath Bell In Three-Team Deal
Rays Acquire Ryan Hanigan, Heath Bell In Three-Team Deal
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Red Reporter, The Strike Zone, AZ Snake Pit, OutsidePitchMLB LLC and HardballTalk
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Loney Emerging As Pirates' Top Target At First Base — The Pirates have contacted the Blue Jays about Adam Lind and the Rangers about Mitch Moreland, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark (on Twitter), but clubs who have spoken to the Buccos get the sense that James Loney has emerged as their top choice at the position.
Discussion:
OutsidePitchMLB LLC, whygavs.com and Bucs Dugout
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Rockies To Sign Justin Morneau — The Rockies have agreed to sign Justin Morneau to a two-year deal worth roughly $13MM, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). — Morneau hit .259/.323/.411 with 17 homers in 2013, a slash line that is a slight improvement …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bucs Dugout, Purple Row and OutsidePitchMLB LLC
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Astros Acquire Dexter Fowler
Astros Acquire Dexter Fowler
Discussion:
Purple Row, The Crawfish Boxes and baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Royals, Rays, Dodgers Interested In Mark Ellis — The Royals, Rays and Dodgers are all interested in second baseman Mark Ellis, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Rosenthal goes on to opine that at the moment, Ellis isn't a great fit for the Rays — a point with which I agree.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Royals Review and OutsidePitchMLB LLC
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Acquire Brad Lincoln — The Phillies announced that they acquired right-handed pitcher Brad Lincoln from the Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Erik Kratz and minor league left-hander Rob Rasmussen. — Lincoln, 28, appeared in 22 games for Toronto in 2013 and posted a 3.98 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Bluebird Banter, OutsidePitchMLB LLC and Phillies Nation
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mariners hitting coach Howard Johnson thinks Ike Davis can still be a hit — ‘I think Ike can still be a 30-home run guy,’ Johnson said. — Howard Johnson, dumped by Mets three years ago, says all is not lost with Ike Davis. — If the Mets are determined to trade Ike Davis this winter …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Catherine Holland / Associated Press:
SF Giants minor leaguers involved in car-van wreck in Scottsdale — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Thirteen people were involved in a wreck at a Scottsdale intersection Tuesday morning. — It happened at Chaparral and Scottsdale roads. — Details were not immediately available …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and KTVU-TV
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