10:55 p.m.: The Los Angeles Angels want a backup infielder, but they won’t be getting one from the Red Sox.
MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports that the Halos inquired about Brock Holt, but Boston wanted too much in return for their liking.
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10:11 p.m.: And then there were two.
The Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez reported that the Dodgers are also out on Lester.
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9:53 p.m.: The Jon Lester saga seems to be nearing its end, but the next big pitching story already might be heating up.
Peter Gammons is reporting that the Detroit Tigers aren’t so sure that they’re going to re-sign ace Max Scherzer. If they don’t, they already know what they want from the Red Sox.
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This likely is the reason why the Tigers don’t think they have what it takes to land Scherzer.
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9:22 p.m.: It looks as though Jon Lester won’t be headed to the Bay Area.
Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans said that San Francisco is out of the race, per Alex Pavlovic of the San Jose Mercury News.
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8:58 p.m.: Stephen Drew certainly has more suitors than he did this time last year.
Because the former Red Sox shortstop won’t cost teams a draft pick, he could be attracting the attention of 10 teams, per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
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8:43 p.m.: There were some rumors that the Los Angeles Dodgers put second baseman Dee Gordon on the trading block, but general manager Farhan Zaidi shot them down.
The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin reports that the Dodgers have no plans to let Gordon go.
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8:09 p.m.: The Giants still are waiting to hear news from the Jon Lester camp, but that doesn’t mean they’re twiddling their thumbs in the meantime.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that they, too, have interest in Justin Upton.
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7:34 p.m.: The Baltimore Orioles might have their eye on Allen Craig.
While the O’s want to bring back outfielder Delmon Young, other teams reportedly are in talks with him. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported that they could end up giving the Red Sox a call if they can’t land him.
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The stove also is getting a little warm for veteran catcher David Ross. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said there’s a chance that he could follow Jon Lester, too.
[tweet https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/542473393275416576 align=’center’%5D
7:15 p.m.: Could the Padres make the next big splash?
San Diego already has been linked to outfielder Matt Kemp, and now ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that they might be the Atlanta Braves’ best option for a trade involving outfielder Justin Upton.
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5:55 p.m.: Jon Lester could make a decision Tuesday night. Maybe.
When Lester will choose a club has been an ever-changing topic in the first two days of the winter meetings. But ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the feeling is it will happen before Wednesday morning.
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5:41 p.m.: Not even Joe Maddon has a clue where Lester will end up.
The new Chicago Cubs manager told reporters that he knows as much about where the lefty will sign as everyone else does.
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We have a bit of Jonny Gomes news, too.
The free agent outfielder and former Red Sox apparently has received some interest from the Baltimore Orioles.
[tweet https://twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/status/542445592316620800 align=’center’%5D
5:25 p.m.: The Cincinnati Reds don’t necessarily want to deal Johnny Cueto, but they could for the right price.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the Reds are trying to shift the focus to their other starters but are listening to offers for their ace.
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As for how the Jon Lester watch is going, ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting that one of his suitors is willing to offer a seventh year.
[tweet https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/542442365953134593 align=’center’%5D
4:49 p.m.: The Chicago Cubs might be trying to lure Lester’s old batterymate to the Midwest, too.
ESPN’s Gordon Edes reports that the Cubs plan to meet with catcher David Ross on Tuesday night.
[tweet https://twitter.com/GordonEdes/status/542434630033358848 align=’center’%5D
3:52 p.m.: Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans added some intrigue to the Jon Lester saga during his appearance on MLB Network Radio this afternoon, revealing that he believes it will come down to the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs.
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But still, that doesn’t mean we’ll know Lester’s decision today.
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3:47 p.m.: The Chicago Cubs have a new catcher.
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3:21 p.m.: Evan Gattis and B.J. Upton might be a package deal. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Atlanta Braves told an American League team that if they want the catcher, they’ll have to take the outfielder as well.
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3:01 p.m.: It’s possible Matt Kemp is a San Diego Padre by this afternoon, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier in the day that the Padres and the Dodgers were “working hard” on a deal, with the two sides apparently getting “closer.”
[tweet https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/542379088552263681 align=’closer’]
Cotillo reports the Dodgers would receive “major-league ready prospects” in exchange for the 30-year-old outfielder.
2:37 p.m.: Besides that Lester guy, Max Scherzer is one of the biggest free-agent arms out there, but it doesn’t appear like the Detroit Tigers plan on parting with him.
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Many clubs have figured to slot Scherzer into their Plan B’s in the event they don’t land Lester, but they might need to start working on their Plan C’s.
2:25 p.m.: It isn’t just the pitching market that Jon Lester is holding up. ESPN’s Jayston Stark reports that the entire league is at a sort of standstill, as the dominoes can’t fall until the southpaw makes a decision.
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1:56 p.m.: The Atlanta Braves are on the verge of acquiring Alberto Callaspo.
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The free-agent infielder didn’t put together the strongest 2014 campaign with the Oakland Athletics, hitting .223 with a .290 on-base percentage, four home runs and 30 RBIs. But despite the down year, Callaspo provides versatility for the Braves, as he can play anywhere in the infield and he’s also capable of playing in one of the corner outfield sports.
Between the Los Angeles Angels and the A’s in 2013, the 31-year-old hit .258 with a .333 OBP and 10 homers.
1:27 p.m.: Francisco Liriano is returning to Pittsburgh.
The veteran lefty agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal with the Pirates, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports. ESPN’s Buster Olney confirmed the report.
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12:53 p.m.: The A’s have to be done trading away every player on their roster, right? Wrong. According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, Billy Beane and Co. are “far from done,” with more moves very likely.
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12:33 p.m.: Well that didn’t take long. The A’s made have made it official:
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12:21 p.m.: More details are emerging about the Jeff Samardzija deal. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports it’s actually a 4-for-2 deal.
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It was reported earlier the A’s received infielder Marcus Semien, right-hander Chris Bassitt and a third player to be named later in exchange for the pitcher, so we’ll keep you posted when we know what other players are involved.
11:58 a.m.: After missing out on Russell Martin, the Chicago Cubs are turning to Miguel Montero behind the plate.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports the Cubs are “on the verge” of acquiring Montero via trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal is expected to be done by the end of the day.
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11:50 a.m.: Justin Masterson isn’t a Red Sox yet.
According to ESPN Boston’s Gordon Edes, Masterson’s decision on Boston’s offer — which is thought to be for one year — is “not imminent.” The pitcher still has other clubs to meet with, Edes adds.
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10:46 a.m.: The San Francisco Giants are feeling good about their chances as Jon Lester’s decision looms. They’re feeling more “optimistic” than 24 hours ago regarding the free-agent lefty, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports.
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10:42 a.m.: It’s sounding more and more likely that we are going to have to wait one more day to hear what team will win the Jon Lester sweepstakes.
A major league source told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that the “process has been slowed” because of the ” involvement of ownership for multiple interested teams.” The source told Bradford that an agreement could still be made Tuesday, though, but if that happens, it won’t occur until later in the day.
10:38 a.m.: The Shark officially is a South Sider, and the White Sox hope to keep him around for a while.
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9:36 a.m.: Just kidding about that multiyear offer, Justin Masterson.
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo clarified a tweet he sent earlier Tuesday morning, saying that the Boston Red Sox’s offer to the pitcher is for one year, not “at least two years” like he reported a couple hours ago.
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9:24 a.m.: Maybe the Los Angeles Angels aren’t shopping C.J. Wilson after all.
General manager Jerry Dipoto squashed the rumors that the Halos were making the left-hander available via trade in order to make a run for someone like James Shields or Max Scherzer, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“We have not picked up the phone and offered C.J. Wilson around to the league, at a reduced cost or any other,” Dipoto said Monday, per the Los Angeles Times. “We find C.J. to be an asset, even coming off what has been his worst year as a starting pitcher.”
Wilson struggled mightily in 2014, going 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA in 175 2/3 innings for the National League West champions. The southpaw has two years and $38 million left on his contract.
8:30 a.m.: The Boston Red Sox’s contract offer to free-agent pitcher Justin Masterson is for at least two years, The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo reports.
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It was reported Monday night the Red Sox had made an offer to the right-hander, and it was assumed he was looking for a one- or two-year contract.
8:10 a.m.: Day 1 of the 2014 MLB winter meetings is in the books.
It might have been a slow start, but the action certainly picked up in the later hours. While the baseball world still eagerly awaits Jon Lester’s decision, which now might “bleed over into Wednesday,” according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, a couple big-name arms did come off the board.
According to multiple sources, the Chicago White Sox nabbed both starter Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics via trade, as well as David Robertson from the New York Yankees via free agency. The A’s received infielder Marcus Semien, right-hander Chris Bassitt and a third player to be named later in exchange for the All-Star, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Robertson agreed to a four-year deal worth $46 million, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports, citing a source.
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Once Lester signs, all the dominoes will truly start to fall, meaning Day 2 could be a doozy. Stay tuned to NESN.com throughout the day, and we’ll keep you posted on all the MLB free agency and trade madness.
Click here for the Day 1 live blog >>
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
