Mid-Day Recap of Day 3 of Winter Meetings

There is already plenty to talk about from the MLB Winter Meetings today, and I've got some time, so I'll break it up into two posts today.

• Jeff Francoeur:  I just put up a note about Francoeur going to the Royals.  Scroll down to the next post to read about it.
• Paul Konerko:  The White Sox and Konerko were about ready to split up, but Chicago's owner came in and helped negotiations along, and Konerko re-signed with the Sox this morning.  He gets a three-year deal worth $37.5 million, a bit short of the $15 million per year he was seeking.  He would have been a nice fit here to play first and DH, but I don't think he ever wanted to leave the Sox.  The Rangers still have their DH sights set on Vladimir Guerrero, who has been their first option from the start.
• Carlos Pena:  Former Ranger Carlos Pena signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Cubs.  He was not a name the Rangers were considering, but he's a member of the first base/DH glut that has found a home for next year.
• Jack Cust:  Former A's homerun/strikeout/walk machine Jack Cust is going to the Mariners on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.  He will likely be their full-time DH.  If Vladimir Guerrero gets a one year contract, it is likely to be closer to Pena's $10 million than Cust's $2.5 million.
• Cliff Lee:  Talks are still moving slowly, but the agent said today that one team has been eliminated from the running.  The Rangers are still involved.
• Michael Young:  Last night's rumors gave me heartburn, but it looks as if there wasn't much to them.  The Rockies asked the Rangers about him, but discussions did not go very far.  Like I said last night, the Rangers check in on everybody that's available, and will at least listen to other teams when they want to talk about guys on our roster, even those that seem the most untouchable.  It's just good business, because you never know when someone might surprise you and offer something that's impossible to reject.  I'll just say this:  When the Rangers do win the World Series sometime in the next five years, I want Michael Young in that dogpile.  It would seem inappropriate if he's not there.

Half a day to go, and there is sure to be plenty more to discuss tonight.  I'll try to have the next one up around 10PM.