10:26 p.m.: We might be in for our first big blockbuster of the winter meetings.
Several sources are reporting that the Chicago White Sox are close to making a trade with the Oakland A’s for ace Jeff Samardzija.
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9:01 p.m.: Not everyone seems to think the Yankees want Jon Lester.
Despite Jerry Crasnick’s report that the Bronx Bombers might be trying to play spoiler, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman said the team is still more interested in righty Max Scherzer.
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As for the Red Sox, The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham reported that they’re still all-in on the Lester front, even if the pitcher isn’t.
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Melky Cabrera remains a topic on the hot stove, too. The Mariners might have some competition in the Kansas City Royals, though the American League champs don’t seem to want to break the bank.
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7:22 p.m.: The MLB winter meetings have turned into the Jon Lester winter meetings.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has sources telling him that the New York Yankees aren’t out of the running to land the lefty.
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7:18 p.m.: Could there be a new left-handed starting pitcher on the market?
There were rumors Sunday that the Los Angeles Angels put southpaw C.J. Wilson on the trading block, rumors that CBS Sports’ John Heyman said Monday were drawing interest from some teams.
However, Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times reported that if there have been discussions about Wilson, the Halos weren’t the ones to start them.
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5:26 p.m.: Melky Cabrera seems to be on his way out of Toronto.
It was widely speculated that the outfielder wouldn’t be returning to the Blue Jays in free agency, and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman is reporting that the Seattle Mariners are likely to land him.
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The M’s already made a splash last week when they signed outfielder Nelson Cruz to a four-year, $57 million contract.
4:43 p.m.: FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the race for Jon Lester has come down to two teams, and Red Sox fans aren’t going to be happy.
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However, some of the Boston media weren’t too quick to agree with Rosenthal.
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CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman offered a some balance to the two sides, though, reporting that although the Cubs and Giants “seem like favorites” to land Lester, the Red Sox haven’t been told that they’re out of the picture.
3:19 p.m.: Talk surrounding Justin Masterson is beginning to heat up.
The free-agent pitcher, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2006, already has met with his first club in his hometown of Indianapolis on Saturday, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reports. Heyman adds the Miami Marlins, the Chicago White Sox and possibly the Chicago Cubs have arranged meetings with Masterson this week.
The 29-year-old went 7-9 with a 5.88 ERA in 28 appearances between the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals this year, but he’s hoping for a bounce-back season in 2015. Masterson, likely to sign a one- or two-year deal, has also drawn the interest of the Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins and “several other teams,” Heyman writes.
2:07 p.m.: The Cardinals aren’t known for making it rain on star free agents, but St. Louis could be making a push for Max Scherzer, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reports.
According to Heyman, the Cards have “at least considered a pursuit” of the right-hander, who was born and raised in Chesterfield, Mo., and attended the University of Missouri. The team reportedly met with the hometown hero “at some point,” while “a couple Cardinals players or former players have called Scherzer to make a pitch about the team,” Heyman writes.
The Cardinals are sitting the Jon Lester sweepstakes out, but they’ll likely have to battle the teams who lose out on the southpaw to land Scherzer.
2:00 p.m.: What’s one more day, right? WEEI’s Rob Bradford, citing a source, reports that Jon Lester’s decision will come Tuesday.
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1:56 p.m.: The New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants aren’t the only teams interested in obtaining the services of Chase Headley. According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Houston Astros have also “kicked the tires” on the third baseman.
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1:35 p.m.: We might be getting closer to a decision from Jon Lester, but it’s still anyone’s game as to who will land the lefty.
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1:08 p.m.: We’re getting closer to finally hearing a decision from Jon Lester. We mean it this time. We think.
ESPN’s Buster Olney reports Lester is “nearing the finish line,” with a decision expected to come by Tuesday. Once Lester announces what team he’ll be taking his talents to, the rest of the dominoes should fall.
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12:35 p.m.: Brandon Moss is the newest member of the Cleveland Indians.
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The Oakland Athletics receive minor league second baseman Joey Wendle in exchange for Moss.
12:25 p.m.: The New York Yankees aren’t giving up on keeping Chase Headley.
Although the San Francisco Giants are said to be very interested in the third baseman after losing Pablo Sandoval to the Boston Red Sox, the Yanks have “growing hope” they’ll retain Headley. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, New York’s optimism stems from its willingness to give him a four-year offer.
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12:05 p.m.: Brandon Moss could be on the move. ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that talks between the Cleveland Indians and the Oakland Athletics have been “revived,” and the two sides are close to striking a deal.
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The Tribe could use the first baseman/outfielder’s power in their lineup, as Moss hit 25 homers last season with the A’s.
11:58 a.m.: Jon Morosi of FOX Sports has the financial details of Jason Hammel’s deal with the Chicago Cubs.
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Jon Heyman also has the details in a less confusing tweet.
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11:55 a.m.: Talks between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres regarding Matt Kemp have taken the Katy Perry route, it appears. Things have been “hot and cold” between the two clubs, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports.
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11:50 a.m.: Jon Lester remains the priority for the Red Sox, with Boston looking at Cole Hamels if a reunion ultimately isn’t possible with the southpaw. But could the Red Sox pull off signing both of them? Sources tell FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that’s “not out of the question.”
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11:37 a.m.: The Houston Astros are looking to make a splash at the winter meetings. According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, the Astros are pursuing free-agent shortstop Jed Lowrie, who spent one season with Houston before being dealt to the A’s.
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The free-agent market for shortstops is thin this offseason — especially after Hanley Ramirez signed with the Boston Red Sox — but the former Oakland Athletic would provide consistency and stability to the lowly Astros.
After putting together a solid 2013 campaign, hitting .290/.344/.446 with 75 RBIs and 15 home runs, Lowrie regressed in 2014. He hit .249 with 50 RBIs and 6 homers in 136 games.
11:20 a.m.: The Chicago Cubs locked down a starting pitcher not named Jon Lester.
According to multiple reports, Jason Hammel is indeed returning to the Windy City.
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After being shipped to Oakland during the Fourth of July blockbuster trade that involved Jeff Samardzija, Hammel made 12 starts for the A’s, posting a 4.26 ERA in 68 innings.
10:57 a.m.: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfield might be less crowded in the very near future. The San Diego Padres are “looming as the most likely destination” for Matt Kemp, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting.
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While shipping a superstar player to a division rival would be a bit strange, the Padres need a slugger in their lineup if they want to contend in the National League West, while the move would clear up cap space for the Dodgers in addition to giving them an upgrade at catcher.
10:38 a.m.: While the baseball world anxiously awaits Jon Lester’s decision, the Chicago Cubs are inching closer to a reunion with starting pitcher Jason Hammel. The news was first reported by CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman late Sunday night and later confirmed by CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney on Monday.
The 32-year-old right-hander went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA for the North Siders before being traded to the Athletics in the blockbuster trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to Oakland.
9:36 a.m.: The Texas Rangers are eyeing a starting pitcher. The Rangers reportedly have their sights set on San Diego Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner, who “remains the top target,” Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes.
The 28-year-old TCU product, who is two years from free agency, remains the priority over a rental player such as outfielder Justin Upton who “would eat up about all of the available financial resources the Rangers have this winter,” Grant reports.
8:25 a.m.: Power-hitting Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang is drawing interest from multiple teams, CBSSports.com Jon Heyman reports.
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The slugging Kang hit 354/.457/.733 with 39 home runs and 115 RBIs in 116 games last season with the Nexen Heores. While Kang played shortstop with the Heores — and the Mets could desperately use a shortstop — he can also slot into second base or third base.
7:25 a.m.: This is from Sunday, but according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the feeling is that it will take a seven-year contract to land Jon Lester.
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Lester will be 31 years old when the 2014 season starts, so you could see where teams might balk at giving top dollar to someone who will be 38 at the end of the deal. However, as is usually the case, if that’s what the player wants, someone likely will give it to him.
6:45 a.m.: Sleep is at a premium this week in the baseball world. It’s only 3:49 a.m. on the West Coast, but there’s already a smattering of news here early on a Monday morning.
First, on the Jon Lester front: CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reported late Sunday night that the San Francisco Giants are “very serious” about trying to sign the left-handed pitcher (Heyman also mentions that they have options if they can’t land him). They’re so serious, in fact, that they reportedly met with one of Lester’s agents, Seth Levinson, on Sunday night.
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The Oakland Athletics are also expected to be busy this week. It sounds like the A’s could be moving closer to trading starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. The front-runners to land the right-hander, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, are the Chicago White Sox.
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That would give the Sox a pretty formidable top of the rotation with Samardzija taking the ball after ace lefty Chris Sale.
6:30 a.m.: The baseball world is convening in San Diego this week in what could be a franchise-altering few days for teams across Major League Baseball.
Baseball’s annual winter meetings kick off in earnest Monday in Southern California, and it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated winter meetings in recent years. That’s because there are so many names being kicked around and so many dominoes that need to fall, which means it could be a crazy few days.
Perhaps the biggest name to be monitored this week is free-agent pitcher Jon Lester. The left-hander has options, and he’s certainly taking his time. He’s thought to be choosing between the Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants. Lester is expected to make his decision at some point during the meetings.
Lester is far from the only player who will be making news in San Diego, though. Be sure to check back with the NESN.com live blog throughout the winter meetings for all of the latest news and rumors.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
