Winter Meetings

You can shop for the groceries anytime, anywhere, really, but there is no place like the winter meetings, which begin tomorrow in Dallas with plenty of shopping options under one roof. Some winter meetings are more productive than others, and while there has been movement on the free agent front already - the big deal for Jonathan Papelbon in Philadelphia heads the list - the futures of Prince Fielder , Albert Pujols , Jose Reyes , and C.J. Wilson have not been decided.

TAMPA - Bobby Valentine grew up a short drive from Yankee Stadium and has spent about 40 years of his life involved in professional baseball as a player, coach, and manager. But until this season, his view of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry was only from the outside. That changed when the Red Sox named him manager in November. Now Valentine has a leading role in baseball's greatest passion play. That he cherishes the opportunity was evident Tuesday when Valentine stood in the visitors' dugout at Steinbrenner Field and entertained questions from a large group of reporters for 20 minutes.

The Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels didn't just dominate the podium at the winter meetings. They were the only teams that used them to reshape their clubs. As Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and some other All-Stars found new homes, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies were uncharacteristically quiet this week, failing to make any big free-agent signings or major trades. Not like last year, when the Red Sox landed Carl Crawford and the Yankees and Phillies wooed Cliff Lee. Perhaps it's a sign that the luxury tax is working, that the high-revenue teams have...

TAMPA - Bobby Valentine grew up a short drive from Yankee Stadium and has spent about 40 years of his life involved in professional baseball as a player, coach, and manager. But until this season, his view of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry was only from the outside. That changed when the Red Sox named him manager in November. Now Valentine has a leading role in baseball's greatest passion play. That he cherishes the opportunity was evident Tuesday when Valentine stood in the visitors' dugout at Steinbrenner Field and entertained questions from a large group of reporters for 20 minutes.

Albert Pujols will get a huge contract, there's no doubt. But the team that will sign the three-time NL MVP remains unclear. Will it be St. Louis, the team he's helped to two World Series titles in six seasons? The new-look Miami Marlins, whose newfound riches from their new ballpark are dominating the free-agent market? The Los Angeles Angels, until now in the background? "He's not the only guy," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said Tuesday, trailed by media whenever he walked the hallways.

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff DALLAS -- In the video embedded above, the Globe's Nick Cafardo wraps up Day 2 of baseball's Winter Meetings where the Red Sox have made some inquiries into some players but have not closed any deals for new additions yet.

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff DALLAS -- In the video embedded above, the Globe's Nick Cafardo wraps up Day 1 of baseball's winter meetings and talks about what the Red Sox may be thinking so far.

Terry Francona is swapping jobs with Bobby Valentine. In another winter meetings trade, ESPN said Monday that Francona will become an analyst for its Sunday night game telecasts next season, joining Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser in the broadcast booth. Valentine worked for ESPN in 2003 and rejoined the network in September 2009. He broadcast Sunday night games this year, then was hired last week as manager of the Boston Red Sox, who parted ways with Francona after the season.

For David Ortiz, a key deadline arrives tonight . Nick Cafardo writes that the Red Sox have a lot of work to do with their bullpen. The Red Sox notebook has Terry Francona settling in at ESPN and Andrew Miller getting signed for 2012. Albert Pujols has become the focus of the winter meetings as the Marlins try and pry him away from the Cardinals.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff DALLAS — Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington just met with Boston-area reporters for nine minutes. It was baseball Ambien for the most part. The Sox, Cherington said, have not yet been told that David Ortiz will accept arbitration before the midnight deadline. There are ongoing negotiations for a multi-year deal and the Sox remain hopeful of retaining their DH, one way or another. Cherington said the Sox didn't have substantive discussions with Erik Bedard, who signed with Pittsburgh.

Today marks the two-month anniversary of Theo Epstein resigning as general manager of the Red Sox so he could become president of baseball operations of the Cubs. Yet the clubs have still not worked out a compensation package for the Cubs to send to the Red Sox. In October, they said in a joint statement that the "issue will be resolved in the near term. " Since then, here is what has transpired regarding compensation: On Oct. 23, commissioner Bud Selig said the teams had until Nov. 1 to make a deal or he would step in and mediate.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Today marks the two-month anniversary of Theo Epstein resigning as general manager of the Red Sox so he could become president of baseball operations of the Cubs. Here is part of the joint statement released by the teams that day: The clubs also have reached an agreement regarding a process by which appropriate compensation will be determined for the Red Sox and that issue will be resolved in the near term. On Oct. 23, commissioner Bud Selig said the teams had until Nov. 1 to make a deal or he would step in and mediate.

The Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels didn't just dominate the podium at the winter meetings. They were the only teams that used them to reshape their clubs. As Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and some other All-Stars found new homes, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies were uncharacteristically quiet this week, failing to make any big free-agent signings or major trades. Not like last year, when the Red Sox landed Carl Crawford and the Yankees and Phillies wooed Cliff Lee. Perhaps it's a sign that the luxury tax is working, that...

It didn't take long for Bobby Valentine to start to stir it up as new manager of the Boston Red Sox. Speaking Wednesday at the winter meetings, the former New York Mets skipper was asked whether he would talk about his rivalry with the New York Yankees. "No, I hate the Yankees. I don't want to waste this valuable time talking about the Yankees. This is too valuable," a smiling Valentine said to laughter. "I told Joe Girardi I used to love them, but now I hate them. " Girardi, the Yankees' manager, will face Valentine for the first time during the regular...

DALLAS - Bobby Valentine was sitting in a library in Tokyo Nov. 29 when he got the call that the Red Sox wanted him as their next manager. His life has been one of constant movement since, each day a new adventure. Valentine has passed through 14 time zones in the last nine days, going from Japan to New York then up to Boston to formally accept his new job. A quick trip to the Dominican Republic followed, before he returned home to Connecticut to repack his suitcase for a trip to Texas and the winter meetings.

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff DALLAS -- In the video embedded above, the Globe's Nick Cafardo wraps up Day 2 of baseball's Winter Meetings where the Red Sox have made some inquiries into some players but have not closed any deals for new additions yet.

A few key dates to keep in mind . . . Nov. 3: Free agent exclusivity ends. Nov. 15-16: GM meetings in Milwaukee Nov. 16-17: Owners meetings in Milwaukee Nov. 23: Deadline for teams to offer their free agents arbitration Dec. 5-8: Winter meetings in Dallas Dec. 7: Last day for free agents to accept arbitration offers from their teams Dec. 12: Final day to offer contracts to...

For David Ortiz, a key deadline arrives tonight . Nick Cafardo writes that the Red Sox have a lot of work to do with their bullpen. The Red Sox notebook has Terry Francona settling in at ESPN and Andrew Miller getting signed for 2012. Albert Pujols has become the focus of the winter meetings as the Marlins try and pry him away from the Cardinals.