For the Yankees, there was only one move that would make this off season anything short of disappointing; signing CC Sabathia. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees and Brian Cashman have accomplished that goal.
Boston Red Sox podcast on MVN Radio, Episode #29 where much like the Winter Meetings, Paul and Tim make much ado about nothing while we wait for news, any news, to come out of Las Vegas. To listen, go ahead and click that "read more" link right there ---->
Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox will unveil new alternate uniforms -- and a new logo as well.
"There's no word yet on what the new logo will look like, or whether it will replace the existing one, which dates back decades."
For all the build up heading into Las Vegas, the 2008 Winter Meetings has started off with more of a whimper than a bang.
There seems to be more posturing than action at every turn, and maybe that's to be expected in a market that shows more signs of mirroring the overall economic climate than the continued bonanza that free agents were hoping for.
Take for example Rafael Furcal and Francisco Rodriguez, who both turned their backs on lucrative contract offers because they expected more to be out there this winter.
Thanks to the fine fellow, Rob, over at "The Bottom Line", Kevin Youkilis is available for an interview and is soliciting questions. Head there and submit your question if you have one.
The Red Sox have been hotly linked to two players: Seattle's Willie Bloomquist and Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli.
Bill James answers a few questions from Fire Brand of the American League. Find out why it's more successful to have a pitcher's park and who he thinks the active pitcher closest to perfection this days is...
Jon Heyman is reporting that the Red Sox's longtime catcher, Jason Varitek, will decline arbitration. He was theorized to possibly accept, as he would have received a raise over his current $10.4 million salary and possibly rebuild his value for the free agent market next year.
Either Varitek (or really, Scott Boras) feels he will be able to get Varitek a multi-year deal worth significant money or there is already such a deal on the table.
Check out Ryne's Ramblings, a collection of random thoughts put together while killing time before killing deer. From Jim Rice to Jennifer Aniston, get the 411 on current events in the Red Sox Nation. And I promise, I even kept the political propaganda to a minimum this time!
I came across this post today by Dan Tobin at Bugs & Cranks and had to share. It's just that good.
While reading one of my half a dozen favorite rumor blogs, I realized two of the top free agent prizes this year are 2004 Boston postseason heroes Manny Ramirez and Derek Lowe. Then I realized Pedro and Schilling are out there, too. It made me wonder, What's the best team you could assemble out of free agents who've played for the Sox? Here's what that team would look like, along with their crowning Red Sox achievement. Players with an asterisk were 2004 world champions. Can you believe an enterprising GM could sign 13 of 'em? (14 if you include Nomar, who got a ring.)