That probably won’t be easy, but ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports (via Twitter) that the Celtics would trade their injured point guard if they were able to find the “right trade.” What exactly that means at this point is still unknown.

Celtics president Danny Ainge has said that the club probably won’t make any big deals before the deadline, but Boston keeps popping up in reported trade discussions, reportedly involving players like Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Perhaps the Celtics would look to move Rondo as part of a huge, franchise-altering overhaul. The Celtics are still reportedly interested in swinging a deal with the Clippers that would send Garnett to Los Angeles. If that were to happen, the C’s are reportedly hoping to acquire Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe in return. Acquiring Bledsoe may also make Rondo expendable, which might explain their reported willingness to move Rondo.

However, Rondo’s health is now a concern, with him not set to return until training camp next year. It’s not often you see a player a month removed from knee surgery moved at the trade deadline, but Ainge has been able to pull off some wild deals since taking over, so presumably nothing is out of the question.

Sources say Boston willing to trade injured PG Rajon Rondo in right deal. Wizards looking to move Jordan Crawford.

—
Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2013

According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, Correia is mulling multiple multiyear options, including one from Japan.

3:59 p.m.: A deal involving Justin Upton might not come to fruition in Nashville, but we’d be naive to rule it out completely.

FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that, according to an official involved in the talks, a deal isn’t dead, although it also doesn’t have any more legs than it did two weeks ago.

3:32 p.m.: FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi reports that the Red Sox’ one-year deal with Koji Uehara has a $4.25 million base salary.

CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam reported earlier that the deal was believed to be in the neighborhood of $4.5 million. We’d say that’s “in the neighborhood.”

3:31 p.m.: The Royals — like most teams — appear to be in the market for starting pitching. According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Kansas City is exploring a group of free-agent starters that includes Jair Jurrjens, Brett Myers and Kevin Correia.

3:20 p.m.: There’s still plenty of talk surrounding the the rumored three- and four-team blockbusters involving Justin Upton. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels left the winter meetings without any such deal in place, though.

Daniels also leaves Nashville without inking either Josh Hamilton or Zack Greinke, both of whom Texas has been linked to since the meetings began. All of this somewhat surprises the Rangers GM.

“I would have guessed something would have happened here,” Daniels told the media before departing. “And I would have been wrong. It hasn’t gotten to the point where something had fallen through that I thought was going to get done.”

3:14 p.m.: The Rays have made their James Loney signing official. The deal is for one year and $2 million, plus another $1 million in incentives.

Loney was sent to Boston in the August megadeal involving Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto. Known mostly for his defense, Loney hit .230 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 30 games with the Red Sox.

3:11 p.m.: It’s worth noting that the Braves have signed Reed Johnson to a one-year deal, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.

Johnson hit .290 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 269 at-bats splits between the Cubs and Braves last season.

3:07 p.m.: The Orioles are still pursuing free-agent starter Joe Saunders, according to Jon Morosi. The two sides reportedly weren’t close to a deal as of this morning, though.

Saunders made 28 starts in 2012, including seven with the O’s. Overall, he went 9-13 with a 4.07 ERA split between Baltimore and Arizona.

2:59 p.m.: We’re still waiting to see how much Koji Uehara’s one-year deal with the Red Sox is worth, but according to CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam, a baseball source said that it’s in the neighborhood of $4.5 million.

As FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi points out, the Red Sox have committed around $120 million for 2013, even when including projected arbitration salaries. That’s a stark contrast from the $175 million 2012 Opening Day payroll.

In other words, the Red Sox have money to spend. (But I didn’t need to tell you that.)

2:25 p.m.: Mets GM Sandy Alderson may have left the winter meetings without a resolution to the R.A. Dickey situation, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the team exhausted a number of options.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets talked to the Yankees about Dickey, but that the Yanks don’t have the pieces to pull off such a deal. The Mets reportedly talked to the Nationals as well — before Washington signed Dan Haren to a one-year deal — but according to Martino, Alderson wouldn’t trade within the division.

This isn’t to say the Mets won’t eventually trade the reigning Cy Young award winner, but there’s still a good chance he stays in Queens. According to FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi, an executive with a club that tried to trade for Dickey said, “I think the Mets are going to sign him.”

1:58 p.m.: The Twins might not be seen as contenders at this point, but they’ve been busy at the winter meetings, dealing away both Denard Span and Ben Revere. Could more trades be on the horizon?

Well, according to general manager Terry Ryan, the Twins will continue to listen to offers for Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau if the club can get more starting pitching in return.

1:53 p.m.: The Yankees could very well land Kevin Youkilis with their reported one-year, $12 million offer, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from pursuing the corner infielder.

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, the Mariners are among the teams interested in Youkilis.

1:51 p.m.: The Rangers have been tossed around in relation to a number of different big name players, including Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke and Justin Upton. But while none of those dominoes have fallen yet, Texas did make a few more minor moves on Thursday.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the Rangers have signed reliever Evan Meek, starter Randy Wells, first baseman Brandon Allen and starter Jake Brigham to minor league deals with invites.

1:46 p.m.: Some minor Red Sox news to announce. The club has acquired pitcher Kyle Kaminska from the Pirates to complete last week’s Zach Stewart trade.

Kaminska, who pitched in the Pirates and Marlins organizations last season, finished the year with a 9-4 record and a 4.19 ERA split between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. The right-hander has been assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

1:42 p.m.: Ladies and gentlemen, Sandy Alderson has left the building.

The Mets GM has left the winter meetings down in Nashville without a resolution on the R.A. Dickey situation, according to FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi.

Dickey, of course, has been the subject of plenty of speculation throughout this week, but it appears Alderson is departing with neither a contract extension for the right-hander nor a trade. Both are reportedly still possibilities, though.

The Mets did get one thing accomplished, though. They signed David Wright to a big contract extension, solidifying him as the club’s cornerstone.

1:10 p.m.: The Red Sox need starting pitching. And according to ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes, they approached the Phillies about Vance Worley before Worley was dealt to the Twins in a deal that reportedly landed Philadelphia outfielder Ben Revere.

Worley, who is still only 25, has plenty of upside, but apparently whatever the Red Sox were willing to offer didn’t compare to Revere, who will likely be Philly’s Opening Day center fielder.

1:05 p.m.: It didn’t take long for the Red Sox’ interest to turn into a deal. According to Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News, the Sox have agreed to a one-year deal with Uehara, contingent upon Uehara passing a physical.

This is a nice deal for the Red Sox, as it adds to their bullpen depth. Uehara first arrived to the majors as a starter, and went 2-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 12 starts with the Orioles in 2009. The O’s then shifted him to the bullpen, where he’s flourished ever since.

Uehara was actually one of the more coveted relievers on the trade market in 2011, and the Rangers were able to pluck him away during a deadline haul that also included them landing Mike Adams from the Padres. Both relievers pitched well in the Lone Star state, but Uehara was particularly good in 2012.

There’s still no word on the financial particulars of the deal, but it’s a signing that should help a Red Sox bullpen that could end up playing a big role in 2012, especially if the team fails to further bolster its rotation. Uehara even saved 13 games for the Orioles in 2010.

12:38 p.m.: All has been relatively quiet surrounding the Red Sox today. Until now.

The Sox are interested in reliever Koji Uehara, according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

Uehara, 37, appeared in 37 games with the Rangers in 2012, and had a 1.75 ERA and a 0.639 WHIP in 36 innings. The right-hander was traded to Texas from Baltimore in exchange for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter prior to the 2011 trade deadline.

12:28 p.m.: Annnnd it looks like outfielder Ben Revere is, in fact, heading to Philadelphia.

MLB.com first reported the news, and according to Danny Knobler, pitcher Vance Worley and pitching prospect Trevor May will be shipped to Minnesota.

Worley went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 25 games (21 starts) in 2011 but regressed in 2012, going 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 23 starts. He battled a bone chip in his elbow for much of last season and underwent surgery in September.

May, a fourth-round pick in 2008, is a highly regarded pitching prospect.

12:16 p.m.: Looking for a dark horse team in the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes? Perhaps it’s the Brewers.

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, one executive thinks Milwaukee is still “laying in the weeds” on Hamilton. Such a move would likely be contingent on the Brew Crew finding a way to move some money.

12:12 p.m.: The Twins could end up dealing with the National League East again.

Reports are surfacing stating that Minnesota could trade outfielder Ben Revere, which comes on the heels of the Twins having already traded Denard Span to the Nationals.

According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, it’s looking like Revere could be the Phillies’ top choice for center field. The Twins are reportedly interested in Vance Worley plus a pitching prospect in exchange for Revere.

Knobler also noted that the Braves have been pursuing Revere, which could lead to an interesting NL East battle before the games even begin.

Revere, who turns 25 in May, hit .294 and swiped 40 bags last season in 124 games.

12:05 p.m.: The Mariners have to be one team sitting there anxiously rooting for a blockbuster deal in which Upton lands with the Rangers, as that would open the door for Seattle to bring in Josh Hamilton. Perhaps that’s why the M’s might get involved in a four-way Upton trade in the first place.

11:54 a.m.: The talks of a blockbuster involving Justin Upton just aren’t going away.

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, two Upton blockbusters are in play. The first would involve three teams; Diamondbacks, Rangers and Rays. The second would also include the Mariners.

In one possible outcome detailed by Rosenthal, Upton would head to the Rangers, a Rays starter would go to the D-Backs, and Mike Olt and other prospects would join the Rays.

11:09 a.m.: Kevin Youkilis could be inclined to take the reported one-year offer from the Yankees worth $12 million — who wouldn’t? — but it apparently isn’t the only offer the versatile corner infielder has received.

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, Youkilis also has two-year offers from others in the $16-18 million range.

10:57 a.m.: While it appears the Yankees’ sights are set on Kevin Youkilis at the moment, one has to wonder why Michael Young wasn’t considered in a potential trade, since it appears the longtime Texas Ranger is available.

Well, maybe he was considered. According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the Yankees don’t think Young can handle third base.

New York, of course, is seeking help at third base after learning that Alex Rodriguez will be shelved at least 4-6 months because of hip surgery.

10:43 a.m.: The Dodgers have long been linked to Zack Greinke, but according to general manager Ned Colletti, the team is not “paralyzed” by the talented right-hander. If other opportunities present themselves, Los Angeles could go in that direction.

If the Dodgers did go down a different route, the Rangers would likely be in line to sign the righty. In fact, according to CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller, there’s a growing feeling amongst Dodgers people that Greinke may wind up signing with the Rangers. Those sources reportedly think that Greinke could have signed with Los Angeles by now if he had really wanted to.

We shall see.

10:39 a.m.: The biggest news coming out of Nashville right now is the potential Michael Young-to-Philadelphia trade.

While Young’s no-trade clause remains an issue, many are speculating that the Rangers could simply tell the veteran that he’d receive limited playing time in Texas if he opts to stay, thus encouraging a deal.

ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports that a Phillies source said that the team never considered Young’s veto power to be a “restriction.”

10:31 a.m.: Kevin Youkilis reportedly has a pretty juicy $12 million offer on the table from the Yankees. But that doesn’t mean him landing in the Bronx is a given.

According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, the Indians are still pushing for Youkilis, and the Terry Francona connection could help. Francona, of course, managed Youkilis for eight seasons in Boston.

We might have to wait for a decision from Youkilis, though. He’s attending a charity event in Boston today.

10:25 a.m.: Those hoping for a huge free agency splash might have to wait.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden — citing sources involved in the negotiations — reports that Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke will not sign today in Nashville.

10:21 a.m.: The ball is in Michael Young’s court.

Reports surfaced stating that the Rangers and Phillies were discussing a deal for Young, and according to CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury, it’s now in Young’s hands whether or not he wants to join Philadelphia. He’s reportedly deciding whether to waive his no-trade clause.

If Young does waive his no-trade clause, he would become Philadelphia’s starting third baseman. If he remains in Texas, he’ll likely be a backup at a number of different positions.

10:19 a.m.: Kobernus’ Boston tenure was short-lived. According to WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox will trade him to the Tigers in exchange for a non-roster player.

So there’s that.

10:08 a.m.: It’s also worth noting that the MLB Rule 5 draft is going on right now.

For all you Red Sox fans, Boston has selected Jeff Kobernus, who was previously in the Washington organization.

10:05 a.m.: Well, Mariners fans shouldn’t get too excited just yet. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, team president Chuck Armstrong has said that Seattle is not close to signing Josh Hamilton — which contradicts a previous report.

Armstrong’s statement shouldn’t come as much of a shock, though. The popular thought right now is that the Rangers hold the key to the entire offseason. If Texas signs Zack Greinke, Hamilton would likely sign elsewhere. If Greinke signs with the Dodgers or some other club, however, then Hamilton could end up back with the Rangers.

9:58 a.m.: Stephen Drew has been a hot commodity for those looking to dive into the shortstop market. If the A’s do lose Drew, they might already have their sights set on a replacement.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland would move to acquire Detroit shortstop Jhonny Peralta if Drew signs elsewhere.

9:47 a.m.: In reliever-related news, Jason Grilli could be nearing a decision.

Grilli, who compiled a 2.76 ERA in 92 games over the last two seasons in Pittsburgh, is deciding between the Pirates, Blue Jays, Cubs and Giants, according to Peter Gammons.

FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the 36-year-old right-hander has two-year offers from each of those teams, and will stay with the Pirates unless another team ups their offer to three years.

9:05 a.m.: Kevin Youkilis in pinstripes? Don’t laugh.

The Yankees have reportedly made Youk a one-year, $12 million offer, according to MLB.com. Considering that New York expects Alex Rodriguez to return at some point next season after undergoing hip surgery, the Yankees might only expect Youk to be a full-time player for the first half of the season. Still, that’s a pretty serious chunk of cash for the former Red Sox third baseman to consider.

Also, as an added note to the Michael Young rumblings — the 36-year-old third baseman does have a no-trade clause, which he does not seem interested in waiving (yet).

8:45 a.m.: The Rangers are certainly going to be busy here on Day 4.

In addition to pursuing Greinke — and perhaps re-signing Hamilton as a fallback plan — Texas is also involved in “advanced talks” with the Phillies for Michael Young, according to the Dallas Morning News. Of course, that’s also on top of the team’s involvement in a rumored blockbuster to acquire Justin Upton.

According to the report, the Rangers would eat more than half of Young’s remaining salary ($16 million for 2013), and in return receive a young major-league reliever and a low-end prospect from Philadelphia.

Young, the team’s all-time hits leader, hit just .277 with eight home runs and 66 RBIs last season, and the Rangers might be ready to move on.

8:25 a.m.: Where Josh Hamilton ends up could hinge first on where Zack Greinke lands.

The Mariners are “very close” to signing Hamilton, according to the Seattle Times, but their ability to sign the free-agent slugger seems to depend on the Rangers inking Greinke first.

That’s because the Rangers are in a bidding war for the pitcher’s services with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and if they win, they likely won’t have enough resources for both Greinke and Hamilton.

Hamilton’s agent has reportedly given the Rangers a chance to match any offer the 31-year-old slugger receives, but it’s looking like it’s lined up for Hamilton to head to Seattle once the Greinke-to-Texas domino falls.

8 a.m. ET: Day 3 of the MLB winter meetings was a little slower than Day 2, especially in Boston, but that just means we could be seeing a busier Day 4.

Already in the works is a four-team trade that would send Justin Upton to the Rangers — meaning Texas would not re-sign their star outfielder Josh Hamilton — according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The fourth team seems to constantly be changing, but for now, the Mariners would be involved, grabbing Derek Holland in the process.

Whether that deal goes down or not, there are plenty of exciting free agents still out there, including the biggest names of the offseason — Hamilton and Zack Greinke. Cody Ross, Brandon McCarthy, Nick Swisher and Brian Wilson are also still available and there’s some names being thrown around as trade bait, like Asdrubal Cabrera, Wil Myers and James Shields.

To follow all the action, tune in to NESN.com’s winter meetings Day 4  live blog to keep up with all the moves of the day.

Check out NESN.com’s Day 3 live blog >>

New York is “open to offers” for Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com.

Hughes had a 4.23 ERA last season with 165 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched. Nova had a 5.02 ERA and a 12-8 record in 28 starts.

12:40 a.m.: There could be a blockbuster deal in the works.

A four-team trade is brewing, and the latest team rumored to be in on the Rangers, Indians and Diamondbacks deal is the Mariners, according to Ken Rosenthal.

The deal would send Justin Upton to the Rangers, Asdrubal Cabrera to the Diamondbacks, Derek Holland to the Mariners and prospect going to the Indians. Rumored players going to Cleveland are the Diamondbacks’ Trevor Bauer and Patrick Corbin and the Rangers’ Mike Olt.

12:05 a.m.: The Red Sox are looking at some starting pitching talent.

The Red Sox have reportedly considered adding Brandon McCarthy, Francisco Liriano and Ryan Dempster, according to Sean McAdam of Comcast Sports Net.

10:42 p.m.: The Royals are going to need to decide if they want to concentrate on winning now or later.

Kansas City is in a “critical stage” in their decision over whether to trade their outfield prospect Wil Myers, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Myers was previously linked to the Red Sox for Jon Lester.

Rosenthal mentioned James Shields of the Rays as a potential trade target for Myers. The Rays were reportedly shopping starters to the Dodgers as well.

10:37 p.m.: The Rangers may not be interested in Josh Hamilton.

Texas would rather sign Zack Greinke and trade for Justin Upton than sign Josh Hamilton, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Greinke’s future deal is rumored to be even larger than C.C. Sabathia’s, so it would make sense that the Rangers have to choose between the two players.

10:20 p.m.: The Dodgers are very active in the starting pitching market.

Los Angeles is not only looking at free agent starting pitchers, but they’ve also talked to the Mets about R.A. Dickey and the Rays about their starters, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

James Shields may be the obvious choice for the Rays to move, but they’ve also got David Price, Matt Moore, Jeremy Hellickson and Alex Cobb in their rotation.

10:15 p.m.: The Yankees missed out on one of their outfield targets.

The Cubs added Nate Schierholtz on a one-year, $2.25 million contract, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

Schierholtz was with the Giants and Phillies last season, where he posted a .728 OPS, with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 241 at bats.

8:15 p.m.: Updating an earlier item, the contract that Joe Blanton will sign with the Angels is reportedly for two years ant $15 million — less than a tenth of what some team is expected to commit to Zack Greinke. Blanton’s deal does reportedly contain some sort of option on a third year.

That update on Blanton is via Jon Heyman.

8:02 p.m.: We’re beginning to learn more about the Josh Hamilton negotiations.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Rangers are perfectly willing to go four years on Hamilton, but a fifth year is out of the question.

This shouldn’t be all that surprising, as most everyone agrees that Hamilton is a premium talent, but beyond his history of addiction his recent injury history has teams wondering how well he’ll hold up as he enters his mid-30s.

7:50 p.m.: The Rockies always need pitching, and in this case they’ve brought in a blast from the past.

According to Jerry Crasnick, Colorado has agreed to a one-year deal with Jeff Francis, the former 2002 first-round draft pick by the club. Francis has pitched his entire career in the thin air of Coors Field except for a one-year sting with the Royals in 2011.

7:40 p.m.: We have no idea if this is an admission they’re out of the Zack Greinke sweepstakes, but the Angels have added more pitching.

According to the L.A. Times’ Mike DiGiovanna, the Angels are close to signing former Dodgers, Phillies and Athletics starter Joe Blanton.

Throughout his career Blanton has been mostly an innings-eater, never starting less than 28 games since 2004. His overall numbers are middling, however, with a career ERA of 4.37 and WHIP of 1.34.

7:10 p.m.: A few more Red Sox notes to pass along, via ESPN’s Gordon Edes.

According to Edes, one can all but rule out the Red Sox trading Jacoby Ellsbury. From Ben Cherington, the team is looking to still add to the roster, not subtract from it.

On top of that, the Sox have probably met personally with Josh Hamilton. Cherington confirmed to Edes that he met with a player, but didn’t confirm who. This may well just be due diligence on the part of the Red Sox (Edes identifies the Mariners as a more likely spot for Hamilton if Texas falls through), but it does mean the team has seriously considered the enigmatic outfielder.

7 p.m.: We’ve already heard some of the rumors, and yes, the Yankees do have interest in Kevin Youkilis.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees did meet with Youkilis’ agent, possibly identifying him as someone to replace Alex Rodriguez while the latter is out with recovering from hip surgery to begin the season.

Rosenthal warns that the meeting was just part of business as usual (“kicking the tires” if you will), but it does confirm that there’s been contact between the two parties.

6:37 p.m.: So ESPN’s Pedro Gomez caught up with Dustin Pedroia (who is apparently also in Nashville?), and Sox fans should like what he has to say.

“I love [the Red Sox' acquisitions],” Pedroia told Gomez. “We’re getting baseball players. They’ll fit right in. Those guys love to get after it.”

6:20 p.m.: And left-handed pitchers continue to change hands.

As a relatively minor note, according to Jon Heyman the Pirates just acquired lefty Andrew Oliver from the Tigers — we’re not sure what Detroit received in return.

Oliver is 25 and hasn’t really established himself in the big leagues, yet, but pitched well in the low minor leagues before running into some trouble the last couple years at Triple-A Toledo.

6:15 p.m.: Suffice to say, the numbers being floated around Zack Greinke’s name are getting out of hand.

The most-cited report has Greinke potentially bringing in more money over the course of his deal than CC Sabathia’s seven-year, $161 contract.

Well, one NESN scribe believes that not only is this prospective Greinke contract bad, but it’s one of the worst in the history of baseball, artificially inflated by a free-agent market missing top-tier starting pitching. Even for deep-pocketed teams like the Dodgers and Rangers, signing Greinke for the kind of money being proposed isn’t good business.

Check out the opinion by following the link above.

5:21 p.m.: Conventional wisdom says that the Zack Greinke sweepstakes is down to the Dodgers and Rangers — but apparently that is not the case.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has confirmed to ESPN’s Jim Bowden that the team is still right in the middle of the negotiations.

Although the Angels may well have serious financial restrictions after last winter’s spending spree of C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols, they have much incentive to avoid seeing Greinke land in Texas or the other side of Southern California. If Greinke went to the Dodgers they’d be losing him to their territorial rival, while Greinke to Texas would make things that much more difficult in the AL West.

5:10 p.m.: They may not be sexy signings, but bullpens are important, and adding arms at this time of the year could play a big role later on. On that note, there are a couple imminent relief-pitching signings to note.

The first is that, according to Jon Morosi, the Cardinals have inked left-handed reliever Randy Choate. Choate has appeared in more than 80 games in two of the last three seasons, so he’s a rubber arm coming out of the pen.

In continuing news on southpaw relievers, the Angels are close with Sean Burnett, according to Ken Rosenthal. Burnett has pitched for the Washington Nationals the last four seasons, posting a 2.38 ERA in 70 games in 2012.

4:50 p.m.: Could a Kevin Youkilis-Terry Francona reunion be in the cards?

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Indians are stepping up their intensity in talks with Youkilis. The Tribe would reportedly love to land him for first base.

4:47 p.m.: Many assumed the Red Sox would be out on Nick Swisher, but Ken Rosenthal still lists them as a potential suitor.

According to Rosenthal, five teams have interest — or potential interest — in Swisher. Those teams are the Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, Orioles and Giants.

As Rosenthal points out, however, the Red Sox would have to move Jacoby Ellsbury before signing Swisher.

4:42 p.m.: The Yankees have not only been relatively quiet thus far, but they’ve lost out on some guys. Now, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Yanks may have trouble bringing back Raul Ibanez.

Ibanez, who came up big in the postseason for New York, is drawing interest from the Mariners, Rangers and Phillies.

3:23 p.m.: We mentioned an earlier report by Danny Knobler stating that the Brewers have considered trading Corey Hart. According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Brewers are not actively looking to trade him, though, and would have to be overwhelmed in order to do so.

3:18 p.m.: Ken Rosenthal notes that the Royals, Brewers and Red Sox have all showed interest in Ryan Dempster, but the Angels’ current level of interest remains unclear.

The Royals previously offered Dempster a two-year deal worth $26 million but balked at offering a third year, according to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star. There’s reportedly no indication that either side has changed its stance.

3:06 p.m.: There have been a lot of rumors concerning R.A. Dickey throughout the winter meetings. And while he could end up staying put in New York, there also exists the possibility that he gets dealt.

According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets are sitting on a number of potential deals for Dickey, and if a team caves and adds a piece, a trade could get done quickly. We shall see.

3:01 p.m.: The Royals would love to add some pitching, but as Danny Knobler points out, they’ll likely have to shed some salary in order to sign a big name free agent. Kansas City has reportedly stayed in touch with both Anibal Sanchez and Kyle Lohse, though.

2:47 p.m.: Those looking for a power bat via trade might be in luck.

CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler reports that the Brewers have considered trading Corey Hart to free up money for their pitching search. As of right now, the Brew Crew simply don’t have the cash flow to become major players in the pitching market.

Hart, who will turn 31 before Opening Day, smacked 30 home runs in 149 games last season. The two-time All-Star had a career-high 31 home runs and 102 RBIs in 2010.

2:35 p.m.: Another third base option is off the market.

Eric Chavez, who reportedly drew interest from both the Red Sox and Yankees, has signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Diamondbacks, according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com.

Chavez played well in a bench role with the Yankees last season. With the Bronx Bombers still in need of a third baseman now that Alex Rodriguez is on the shelf, keeping Chavez around seemed like a good idea. However, just as they lost out on Jeff Keppinger earlier today, they’ve lost out on the soon-to-be 35-year-old Chavez.

We’ll see if the Yankees now ramp up their effort to sign Kevin Youkilis, who has also been linked to New York.

2:12 p.m.: Earlier we mentioned a report indicating that the Indians are interested in Nick Swisher. Apparently, their new skipper has been proactive in the recruiting process.

Terry Francona called Swisher to pitch the Tribe to the outfielder/first baseman, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Orioles and Mariners are also believed to be in on Swisher, although Seattle is reportedly also nearing a deal with Jason Bay.

2:08 p.m.: Jason Bay might be switching coasts very soon. According to FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi, Bay is “close” to a deal with the Mariners.

2:04 p.m.: Curt Schilling may have just caused some serious Twitter buzz with a recent tweet.

Schilling tweeted, “Phillies call Boston, Lee for Ellsbury.” The former big league hurler quickly clarified, however, that he was simply asking for it to happen, rather than reporting such.

2:01 p.m.: According to Jon Heyman, there’s still a gap when it comes to R.A. Dickey’s contract talks with the Mets. The veteran is reportedly seeking a two-year deal worth $30 million, while the Mets are offering two years and $20 million.

1:56 p.m.: Nate McLouth has really fallen off in recent years, but he was a respectable outfielder down the stretch for the Orioles in 2012. Apparently, he showed enough to warrant another year in Baltimore.

According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, McLouth has agreed to a one-year deal with the O’s. The 31-year-old will reportedly receive $2 million, plus $500,000 in bonuses.

1:36 p.m.: It seems fairly obvious, but CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler reports that the Red Sox are likely now out on Nick Swisher and Cody Ross unless they trade Jacoby Ellsbury.

1:27 p.m.: Buster Olney reports that the Yankees have been exchanging trade proposals with other teams about players, including Curtis Granderson. As Olney points it,  though, this is simply “standard operating procedure.”

The Yankees may now be forced to get more aggressive in their pursuit of a third baseman. According to Jon Heyman, Jeff Keppinger — who the Yankees reportedly wanted — has signed a three-year deal with the White Sox.

1:23 p.m.: Ryan Dempster continues to be an intriguing pitcher throughout all of this. According to Ken Rosenthal, the 35-year-old — who pitched well at the beginning of 2012 before sputtering down the stretch — is seeking a three-year deal.

1:19 p.m.: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers are confident in their pursuit of Justin Upton, but that there’s still a “ways to go” before a deal. It’s also reportedly unclear how many teams would be involved in any such trade.

1:15 p.m.: Quick side note: The Mets formally announced today that they have signed David Wright to a contract extension.

12:40 p.m.: The Rangers continue to be very active down in Nashville. They’ve been linked to a number of names, and according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, it appears Texas is “working hard” to obtain Justin Upton.

Heyman reports that three- and four-team deals are being discussed at the moment. Stay tuned.

12:38 p.m.: ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Indians, who missed out on Shane Victorino, are one of the teams involved in the Nick Swisher talks.

12:35 p.m.: R.A. Dickey’s name continues to come up, although now it’s in talks about him remaining with the Mets.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden reports that he ran into Dickey, and the veteran knuckleballer said that he’s “inching along” toward a deal with the Mets.

12:33 p.m.: The Mariners like speedy outfielder Michael Bourn very much, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.

The Phillies and Rangers are also believed to be interested, although as Heyman points out, the Rangers have a lot going on right now. Texas has also been linked to Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke.

12:24 p.m.: The Red Sox’ shortstop position remains unclear, as there are some who are skeptical about whether or not Jose Iglesias is ready offensively. That could be why the Sox reportedly have their sights set on a certain free agent.

The Red Sox continue to show interest in Stephen Drew, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. This isn’t the first time Boston has been linked to Drew — brother of former Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew — but the continued speculation shows that Ben Cherington and Co. might not be 100 percent ready to hand the everyday reins over to Iglesias.

MLB.com’s Jason Beck reports that Drew figures to land a two-year deal, which could rule out the Tigers as potential suitors.

11:53 a.m.: The D-Backs, Rangers, Indians and Rays have reopened talks of a potential four-way deal involving the likes of Justin Upton, James Shields and Asdrubal Cabrera, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

11:46 a.m.: It’s been more than 15 years since the Red Sox traded Carl Pavano to the Montreal Expos in a deal that brought Pedro Martinez to Boston. Perhaps they’re ready to revisit a reunion.

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, five teams are interested in Pavano, and the Red Sox have “checked in” on the 36-year-old right-hander.

Pavano, drafted by Boston in 1994, has spent the past three-plus seasons in Minnesota. He went 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA in just 11 starts in 2012.

11:37 a.m.: Olney also reports that the price for Shin-Soo Choo is “high,” and that the price for Asdrubal Cabrera is “even higher.”

11:35 a.m.: ESPN’s Buster Olney is now also reporting that the Red Sox are listening to offers for both Ellsbury and Lester. However, he reports that the Sox are not looking to move them unless teams overpay.

11:22 a.m.: As mentioned, it looks like the Dodgers and Rangers are considered the big players in the Zack Greinke sweepstakes. According to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, the “big buzz” down in Nashville today is to watch out for the Rangers in that bidding war.

11:13 a.m.: The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has apparently been asking around about the Jacoby Ellsbury trade rumors, and he reports that there is a feeling down in Nashville that Ellsbury will be tough to deal because teams have no idea if they can sign him.

11:08 a.m.: An interesting report surfaced Tuesday that linked Kevin Youkilis to the Yankees. Well, apparently the Bronx Bombers aren’t the only ones intrigued by Youk.

Youkilis has multiple contract offers on the table, according to WEEI.com’s Alex Speier.

11:03 a.m.: What will be the next domino to fall for the Red Sox? That’s a burning question throughout Boston this morning.

The Sox are apparently remaining very active down in Nashville. According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, Boston is willing to discuss just about anyone, including Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester.

The Ellsbury rumor is one that floated around on Tuesday, but the inclusion of Lester in any deal remains surprising, especially considering the question marks surrounding the Red Sox’ rotation.

10:56 a.m.: Jason Bay could present a low-risk, high-reward option for a team seeking outfield help, and according to Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown, the 34-year-old slugger is nearing a decision.

Brown lists the Indians, Mariners and a couple of other teams as possibilities. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Indians may be ahead for Bay, while the Mariners are still a factor and the Cubs are on the periphery.

10:52 a.m.: Meanwhile, one of the Mets’ NL East rivals, the Atlanta Braves, continue to explore a number of options.

According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Braves have inquired about some fairly big names via trade, including Justin Upton, Dexter Fowler, Shin-Soo Choo and Alex Gordon.

10:48 a.m.: Here’s a new pitching name for you: Johan Santana.

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Mets would be willing to eat some money in order to deal the veteran left-hander. However, to this point, they’ve apparently received no inquiries.

10:43 a.m.: We mentioned earlier that Asdrubal Cabrera’s name has reportedly come up in trade talks, with the Indians looking to move him in exchange for less expensive pieces. Now, it appears there could be something in the works between Cleveland and Arizona.

MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince reports that the Indians and D-Backs have discussed the framework of a deal centering around Cabrera and pitcher Trevor Bauer. The two teams have reportedly discussed such a deal for two weeks, and talks have apparently escalated.

According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, one executive revealed that the discussions have “some legs,” although a deal is still considered a “long shot.”

10:24 a.m.: Outfielder Nate Schierholtz was recently nontendered by the Phillies, but according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the 28-year-old is making “good progress” toward his next deal.

Olney reports that the Yankees are the early front-runners in the Schierholtz talks.

Schierholtz hit .257 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 241 at-bats split between San Francisco and Philadelphia in 2012.

10:17 a.m.: The Twins have already traded away Denard Span, but they might not be done wheeling and dealing.

Minnesota is currently gauging interest in four-time All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.

The Orioles are reportedly one of the teams contacted by the Twins, who are seeking young pitching in return for the 31-year-old.

10:02 a.m.: Another interesting tidbit from Edes’ article is the Red Sox’ stance on Josh Hamilton, who remains the most prized position player on the open market.

Edes wrote that, according to a Sox source, the club shouldn’t be counted out of the running for Hamilton, even in the wake of the Shane Victorino signing. Of course, signing Hamilton would likely spell the end of Jacoby Ellsbury’s tenure in Boston.

9:59 a.m.: ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes on Wednesday morning wrote about the Red Sox’ need for starting pitching, and he speculated how they could go about obtaining such.

Edes wrote that the Sox won’t engage in a bidding war for the top pitching prizes on the market (Greinke, Sanchez, Lohse), but he wonders if the Rangers could deal a hurler if they land Greinke and fail to re-sign Josh Hamilton. Edes also wonders if the Dodgers could part ways with a pitcher if they win the Greinke sweepstakes.

9:52 a.m.: Buster Olney touched on Jacoby Ellsbury in an ESPN Insider column this morning, and he said that “because of circumstances, there would appear to be an extremely limited market for him if the Red Sox decide to trade him for pitching this winter.”

One team that we might be able to write off as a potential suitor for Ellsbury is Philadelphia. According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox and Phillies have not engaged in any talks regarding Ellsbury.

9:45 a.m.: Zack Greinke is going to get paid. It’s just a matter of which team is going to throw the most cash in his direction.

Right now, it looks like the Greinke sweepstakes could come down to the Dodgers and Rangers. According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, there is a belief that one of those two teams will sign the coveted right-hander.

The Dodgers have long been considered the favorites to land Greinke, but according to Heyman, the Rangers are showing signs of determination.

9:41 a.m.: If the Yankees really do want Jeff Keppinger, they’ll have some competition. According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox are also in on the free-agent infielder.

9:39 a.m.: There’s been a lot of talk that the Rays could deal pitching in an effort to bolster their suspect lineup. If they do, it looks like they could trade James Shields or Jeremy Hellickson, while hanging on to David Price.

CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler reports that teams who have had discussions with the Rays have come away thinking that Tampa is much more open to trading away Shields or Hellickson than Price. That makes sense in that Price is not only one of the game’s premier young hurlers (and left-handed, to boot), but he’s also three years away from free agency.

9:21 a.m.: R.A. Dickey’s name will likely continue to be trotted out in trade rumors over the next couple of days, but don’t expect the Mets to rush into anything.

“Most of these types of decisions you lose sleep over,” one Mets executive reportedly told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. “This is one of those where you don’t. We have only good options.”

The Mets have reportedly told Dickey what they are willing to do in a contract extension, and have told teams interested in acquiring the 38-year-old what types of players it will take.

Currently, Dickey is under contract with the Mets for $5 million in 2013 — a bargain for a reigning Cy Young award winner.

9:13 a.m.: It’s worth pointing out that Josh Hamilton sent out a tweet on Tuesday night that said, “heading home!!” Perhaps this means we won’t see the prized outfielder sign with a team during the next two days.

If that’s the case, all eyes will be on Zack Greinke, who is reportedly drawing interest from the Rangers and Dodgers, and is expected to net a record-setting contract.

9:06 a.m.: The Yankees have an obvious need at third base now that Alex Rodriguez will be out for an extended period of time because of hip surgery. The name that keeps coming up is Jeff Keppinger.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports that the Yankees “really want” Keppinger, and that the free-agent infielder seems to have become popular. Keppinger reportedly could fetch a three-year deal worth $13 million or more.

9:02 a.m.: It’ll be interesting to see if the Red Sox address their pitching needs at some point during the next two days.

The Sox have been linked to Ryan Dempster, Kyle Lohse and Anibal Sanchez, all of whom are free agents, but there’s also a juicy rumor floating around that Boston could deal away Jacoby Ellsbury. The assumption is that if the Red Sox were to deal Ellsbury, it would be done to net them pitching.

It must be noted, however, that dealing Ellsbury seems like pure speculation at this point. Still, it’s worth monitoring.

8:45 a.m.: Will this year’s winter meetings product a blockbuster trade? Well, according to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, one could be in the works.

According to Rosenthal, a variety of three-, four- and even five-team trades are possible during the next two days in Nashville. At the forefront of those rumors are the Diamondbacks, Indians, Rangers and Rays.

The same principal players are reportedly being tossed around in the negotiations, and the list includes Justin Upton, Asdrubal Cabrera, James Shields and possible some Rangers prospects.

Those are some big time names, and while Rosenthal notes that no deal is close, it’s apparent what each team is looking to accomplish with such a megadeal. The Rangers reportedly want Upton, while the Diamondbacks want a shortstop, the Indians want younger pieces and the Rays want to trade pitching for offense.

8 a.m. ET: Day 1 of the winter meetings in Nashville was a little slow, but the action began in earnest on Day 2.

The Red Sox continued to be the most active team on the free-agent market so far this offseason. They had already hauled in Mike Napoli, and on Tuesday, they agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract — mirroring that of Napoli — with outfielder Shane Victorino. The former Phillie and Dodger figures to slot into right field for the Sox.

But then again, Cody Ross is still out there, and Boston hasn’t ruled him out yet. Likewise, word also got out that the Sox are at least open to the idea of trading Jacoby Ellsbury. So Victorino’s versatility could come into play, and all the pieces of the Red Sox’ offseason are still very much fluid.

Elsewhere, Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke — the two prizes of this year’s free-agent class — are still out there. On Tuesday, the Dodgers emerged as the clear front-runners for Greinke, but the Rangers are apparently still in on both players.

Marco Scutaro reportedly signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Giants, giving them stability at shortstop moving forward. Dan Haren signed with the Washington Nationals on a one-year agreement, bolstering their starting rotation. And, at the very end of Tuesday, the Marlins flipped the recently acquired Yunel Escobar to Florida’s other team, the Tampa Bay Rays.

What does Wednesday have in store? Well, stick with us here at NESN.com for your Winter Meetings Day 3 Live Blog. We’ll have it all covered for you.

Click here to check out NESN.com’s Day 2 live blog >>

Boston is now said to be interested in the right-hander the second time around.

The Red Sox have “checked in” on Dempster, according to Alex Speier of WEEI. Dempster, 35, is said to want a three-year deal.

Dempster moved back into a starting role with the Cubs in 2008 after four years coming out of the bullpen and has pitched 200 or more innings in each year since, except for last season. He’s gone 65-49 with a 3.74 ERA over those years and was 12-8 with a 3.38 ERA last season with the Cubs and Rangers.

Napoli is visiting Boston this weekend to meet with the Red Sox, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Napoli would most likely play first base if he were to sign with Boston, with his catching abilities taking a back seat since the Red Sox have catchers Ryan Lavarnway, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the newly signed David Ross all under contract.

Napoli, 31, is also reportedly meeting with the Mariners.

Click here to read whether the Red Sox should sign Napoli>>

The New York Post reports that “a person with knowledge of the [Red Sox'] situation” says Swisher is “on their radar,” with the Yankees unlikely to spring for a multiyear contract now that the club is trying to get under the luxury tax threshold and stay there.

But while Swisher, who was a decent power hitter and great clubhouse presence in New York, seems like a good option for Boston on paper, there are plenty of reasons why Swisher wouldn’t fit in with the Red Sox. The biggest drawback is that Swisher, while a fun-loving guy, didn’t take kindly to the criticism heaped on him during the playoffs last year. If he were to pull a Johnny Damon and go from New York to Boston, he’d have plenty more of that to deal with.

His requesting a multiyear deal at his age (32 on Sunday) could also be a drawback for the Sox, who want to be more careful with their spending this offseason.

Swisher has played in the major leagues nine seasons, with his batting average and power totals getting a boost after he signed with New York in 2009. He was a .272 hitter last year with 93 RBIs and 24 home runs.

FOXSports.com reports that Los Angeles is contemplating signing Kevin Youkilis. If the Dodgers were to ink the 33-year-old, they’d likely shift Hanley Ramirez back to shortstop — his natural position — full time.

When the Red Sox were initially shopping Youkilis in June, the Dodgers were one of the teams that were interested. While Youkilis was dealt to the White Sox, those talks triggered the blockbuster trade in August between Boston and Los Angeles.

After acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto from the Red Sox, the Dodgers could be poised to add Youkilis and thus add some more Boston flavor. In order to lock up Youkilis, however, the team would have to be willing to convert third baseman Luis Cruz into a utility man.

The Dodgers would also have to send shortstop Dee Gordon back to Triple-A as the odd man out. Gordon was the team’s starting shortstop before the Dodgers traded for Ramirez prior to the trade deadline.

Regardless of Gordon’s fate, Youkilis showed he still has gas left in the tank. The infielder, who can also play first base, played in 122 games last season, and hit 19 home runs with 60 RBIs while batting .235.

But make no mistake about this: Zach Greinke, the most desirable pitcher currently on the market, will be traded by Tuesday's non-waiver deadline, according to Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.

The decision to trade him came after the team's most recent road stint, during which Milwaukee went winless through six games. Grienke indicated to the Brewers that he wanted to test free agency but has not named any specific teams to play the role of his potential new suitor.

Now in his ninth year in the majors, Greinke arrived in Milwaukee after seven years in Kansas City, where he has been the bright spot of a struggling Brewers team that currently ranks fourth in the NL Central. His ERA is 3.44 with a 9-3 record through 21 starts. He is on pace for his third season of winning at least 16 games with 200 or more K's.

As of right now, the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels have shown interest in adding Greinke, according to USA Today.

After spending years in small market towns like Kansas City and Milwaukee, it could be time for Greinke to move to a large stage where his talents could be better served. At 28 years old, there is still plenty of time for this young righty to make a handful of postseason appearances.

Brees and the team reached the agreement on Friday, which will pay the quarterback $40 million in the first year, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been publicly announced.

The Saints announced they had reached a five-year deal with Brees but did not release financial details of the contract.

Brees posted a note on his Twitter page reading, "Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!"

Brees had been tagged as the Saints' exclusive franchise player and could not negotiate with other teams.

Had a deal not been reached, the tender for a quarterback was worth $16.3 million. Brees would have had to play for that amount or hold out for a better one-year deal, which would have left his long-term future in New Orleans uncertain.

Brees skipped the Saints' offseason practices while holding out for his new long-term contract, which now gives him the highest average annual pay ($20 million) in NFL history. Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams also has a $100 million contract, but for six years.

Now Brees is set to report for the opening of Saints training camp on July 24, a needed dose of good news for a club whose offseason has been plagued by the bounty scandal that resulted in the season-long suspensions of head coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, among other sanctions.

New Orleans had designated Brees, 33, as its franchise player in March after the club was unable to reach a new long-term extension with the record-setting quarterback before his previous six-year, $60 million contract expired.

Brees, however, was steadfast in not wanting to play for a one-year deal.

During the past six seasons, Brees has not only led the Saints to their only Super Bowl title, but has completed more passes (2,488) for more yards (28,394) and more touchdowns (201) than any other quarterback in the NFL. His 67.8 percent completion rate spanning the past six seasons also tops the league.

In 2011, Brees set NFL single-season records with 468 completions, 5,476 yards passing and a completion percentage of 71.2. His prolific passing numbers helped the Saints set a new NFL high for total offensive yards in a season with 7,474. Brees yards-passing record shattered a mark of 5,084 set by Dan Marino back in 1984.

He led the Saints to a 13-3 regular season record and their second NFC South Division title in three seasons. New Orleans defeated Detroit in the first round of the playoffs before falling in the final seconds of its second-round game at San Francisco.

This offseason marked the first time Brees had the opportunity to negotiate a major, long-term deal with the leverage provided by a string of injury-free seasons highlighted by a slew of individual and team statistical records, in addition to a championship.

He commanded only second-round money when he was drafted by San Diego, and the Chargers placed the one-year franchise tag on him when that deal ran out in 2005. The right-handed Brees then had an injury the following season that required major surgery to his throwing shoulder, and which left him with few major offers during the 2006 offseason.

He wound up signing the six-year deal in New Orleans that left him playing for well below what the top quarterbacks in the league earned during the past few seasons.

Brees' new deal tops the previous benchmark contract for elite QBs set by with the five-year, $96 million deal Denver gave earlier this offseason to Peyton Manning, who is three years older than Brees and sat out last season while recovering from neck surgery.

According to ESPN, the Rockets have traded the No. 14 pick and Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 12 pick. Along with moving up in the draft, the Rockets will receive Shaun Livingston, Jon Leuer and Jon Brockman from Milwaukee.

Houston has been busy making moves prior to the NBA draft. Earlier this week, the Rockets traded Chase Budinger and Lior Eliyahu to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 18 pick. Houston currently has the No. 12, 16 and 18 picks in the draft.

Many people speculate that Houston is trying to trade up for two top-10 draft picks, in order to trade with the Orlando Magic for Howard.

The current rule requires any basketball player hoping to join the league to be at least 19 years of age and be at least one year removed from high school.

The rule has been in place since 2005 and was not adjusted during 2011's labor negotiations as the NBA dealt with a 161-day lockout.

Despite not addressing the issue late last year, Stern and the owners would like to change the rule to add one year to the age limit, according to a report from ESPN.

The NBAPA has been hesitant to jump on board without any concessions from owners, but nevertheless formed a committee to explore the idea.

Liverpool FC has been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, including Darren Bent, Luuk De Jong and Esteban Granero, just to name a few. Some may think the club has holes to fill, but LFC won’t discuss potential deals until they are sealed. It’s standard practice for most teams, actually.

Dimitar Berbatov could be playing his last few months with Manchester United. And what are the chances Fernando Torres ends his Chelsea nightmare and high-tails it back to Spain?

NESN.com’s Marcus Kwesi O’Mard and European Soccer Correspondent Ben Lyttleton discuss the latest transfer rumors surrounding Liverpool FC and big names in English and European soccer.

Listen to the podcast or download it in the player below.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Woods is looking for a broker to sell his 155-foot, multimillion-dollar yacht for upwards of $25 million. The boat is appropriately named "Privacy."

Sources from Woods' camp claim that the former international golf phenom offered the boat to his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren. The boat was her wedding present in 2004, but she showed no interest in it last summer during their divorce settlements.

Maintenance of the giant vessel supposedly costs more than $2 million a year and requires a permanent staff of 13 crew members.

This past fall, Woods had the boat dry-docked in Ft. Lauderdale for painting and deck resurfacing.

The Post also reports that Woods purchased "Privacy" for $20 million, but feels that the boat's value has increased because of how well it was taken care of.

Click here to see photos of Tiger's yacht "Privacy">>