Top Items:
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Soriano, Nats Appear Headed for Second Go-Round — SAN DIEGO — When second baseman Alfonso Soriano departed the Washington Nationals' spring training camp on March 2 to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic, he left with a seven-word message that was less a threat …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano Refuses to Take Left Field — VIERA, Fla., March 20 — When the Washington Nationals took the field Monday evening, Alfonso Soriano's name was the first blared over the public address system, the man due to lead off and play left field. But as the Nationals trickled out of the home dugout …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Soriano, Nats at impasse over outfield — Slugger could be placed on the disqualified list — • Armas looks good in Nats' loss to LA — • Nats mailbag: Who will step in at short? — • Complete Spring Training coverage — VIERA, Fla. — Alfonso Soriano …
Discussion:
The Curly W, Sports Scope, The Nationals Enquirer, Nats Triple Play and District of Baseball
Thom Loverro / Washington Times:
Bowden's future depends on Soriano — Alfonso Soriano returns to the Washington Nationals today following his stint on the bench in the World Baseball Classic with the choice of accepting a position in left field or declining it, perhaps on the grounds of delusion.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Team prepared to put Soriano on disqualified list — VIERA, Fla. — Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition …
Associated Press:
BoSox send Arroyo and cash to Reds for Pena — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo on Monday to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena. — Arroyo was 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA last season. The right-hander was part of a deep group of Red Sox starters …
Discussion:
Reb Sox, Brew Crew Ball, Red Reporter, Deadspin, Cincinnati Reds Blog, Baseball Musings, Where have you gone … and Al's Ramblings
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Maureen Mullen / MLB.com:
Sox obtain Pena, send Arroyo to Reds — Epstein, Francona excited to land power-hitting outfielder — • Theo Epstein conference call on Pena trade — • Complete Spring Training coverage — FORT MYERS, Fla. — With seven starting pitchers vying for five spots, the Red Sox had to make some decisions.
Discussion:
Baseball Crank, Viva El Birdos, Empyreal Environs, Boston Red Sox, Athletics Nation and The Baseball Desert
Associated Press:
Boston gets Pena for Arroyo — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Wily Mo Pena has amazing power, when he makes contact. Bronson Arroyo has shown he can be a reliable starting pitcher, when given the chance. — Both are just looking for consistency. — The Boston Red Sox traded Arroyo …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox sign Gonzalez, may deal for Pena — Free agent Juan Gonzalez has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox, but the Sox's quest to add power might not end there. — The team also is talking to the Reds about a trade for outfielder Wily Mo Pena, FOXSports.com has learned.
Discussion:
Get Up, Baby!, ALLIGATOR BUTTON, Over the Monster, The Baltimore Chop and Boston Red Sox Nation
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Bannister earning serious consideration — Righty relying on smarts, late movement and a killer curve — • Mets notes: Glavine, Pedro pitch in tandem — • Mets can't turn hits into runs against Marlins — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Brian Bannister can bring it when he has to.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's storm back late to edge Mets — Millar leaves with hand contusion; Relaford's single wins it — ORIOLES 6, METS 5 — Mets at the plate: Jose Reyes doubled and scored on a two-bagger by Carlos Beltran in the first inning. Two batters later, Beltran came in on a sacrifice fly by Cliff Floyd.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Charlie Wilmoth / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: Pittsburgh Pirates — Since Barry Bonds left for free agency in 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates have endured 13 consecutive losing seasons, the longest active streak in baseball. Even the Brewers look poised to have a run of good seasons after finishing with 81 wins last year …
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Burnett, Gorzelanny among 11 Bucs cut — Littlefield predicts players will see time in Majors this season — BRADENTON — Left-handers Sean Burnett and Tom Gorzelanny, two pitchers who were in competition for openings in the big league starting rotation, were among the 11 roster cuts …
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Notes: Perez to start Pirates opener — Duke, Snell, Maholm also guaranteed spots in rotation — • Burnett, Gorzelanny among 11 Bucs cut — • Bautista goes deep in Bucs' loss — BRADENTON, Fla. — Four of the five pieces of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation puzzle were put into place on Tuesday.
Drew Olson / JSOnline:
De La Rosa makes impression — Pitcher builds on Classic momentum — dolson@journalsentinel.com — Scottsdale, Ariz. - In 38 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers last season, reliever Jorge De La Rosa struggled to establish positive momentum. The 24-year-old left-hander followed …
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Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Bye Bye Matt Thornton — The M's have traded Matt Thornton to the Chicago White Sox for Joe Borchard. — There's almost no way to not like this move, in my opinion. Thornton was, and still is, essentially useless. Yes, he throws 95, but big whoop-de-doo.
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Replacement Level Yankees Weblog:
The 2006 Diamond Mind Projection Blowout — Last year, I ran 2000 Diamond Mind Simulations with Diamond Mind Baseball and projection disks by Diamond Mind and ZiPS. This year, I've done it again, and also added another 1000 runs using Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA projections.
Associated Press:
Veteran left-hander Leiter retires after spring game — TAMPA, Fla. — Al Leiter attended the New York Yankees' spring reunion, then decided he's not coming back anymore. — The 19-year veteran retired Sunday after pitching to one batter in New York's 2-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Bagwell's days appear to be numbered — With Opening Day two weeks away, scouts and executives are increasingly skeptical that Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell will make a successful comeback from right shoulder problems. — "It's hard for him to throw groundballs to the infielders between innings," a rival executive says.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets temporarily shut down Wagner — Finger sidelines closer until weekend; MRI results negative — • Buy Mets Spring Training tickets — • Complete Spring Training coverage — PORT ST. LUCIE — If Billy Wagner had experienced any angst, it wasn't readily apparent in his expression or manner.