(the lounge at Disney World’s Dolphin Hotel Sunday evening, minutes after Bill Singer arrived)

The importance of major daily newspapers blogging during the Winter Meetings cannot be overstated. We’re only on Day One and already we’ve had,

a) Peter Abraham photographed with Pluto,
b) Mark Hale updating us on his dinner plans,
c) Joel Sherman warning us that baseball executives are scared to leave their rooms (too many people blogging, apparently)
d) The Dolphin Hotel was “buzzing late into the night,” writes Newsday’s David Lennon, who sadly, has little else to say on the subject (so far).

Ken Rosenthal’s view on what it would take for the Red Sox to send Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers ;

The Red Sox almost certainly would want right-hander Jonathan Broxton, a future closer, in a Ramirez package. The Dodgers, however, value Broxton for his late-inning potential.

Dodgers right-hander Brad Penny also figured to be discussed; he had a 6.25 ERA after the All-Star break last season, but pitched for the Marlins when Sox owner John Henry owned that club.

A package of Penny, third baseman Andy LaRoche and first baseman James Loney might entice the Red Sox. Penny, 28, is signed for $7.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2008, with an $8.75 million club option for ’09.

The Dodgers, however, might not want to part with top prospects if they’re required to take on Ramirez’s $20 million club options in both 2009 and ’10, which would be the likely price for persuading him to waive his no-trade clause.