Top News:
ESPN:
Rocket re-launch: Clemens rejoins Astros — HOUSTON — Roger Clemens is coming out of retirement for the third time, agreeing to a $22 million contract to pitch for the Houston Astros for the rest of 2006. — The 43-year-old Clemens, who will be entering his 23rd major league season …
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Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Done deal: Rocket returns to Astros — Clemens set for June 22 return to Houston rotation — HOUSTON — Retirement and the Hall of Fame will have to wait a little longer for Roger Clemens, because The Rocket has decided to go on one final mission for Houston.
Discussion:
Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Rocket mission is a scrub — TORONTO — The No. 21 jersey was pressed and ready. — Keith Foulke's locker, the one at the end of the Red Sox clubhouse, nearest Terry Francona's office, was earmarked for him as well. There was a nice little home in Boston that had Roger Clemens's name on it.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Final touches being placed on Nevin trade — ARLINGTON — Just shy of the season's one-third mark, the Rangers ended the Phil Nevin experiment Wednesday afternoon. — A week after Nevin lost his job to rookie Jason Botts, the club was putting the final touches on a deal with the Chicago Cubs, a pair of Rangers sources said.
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Associated Press:
Rangers deal Nevin to Cubs for Hairston — ARLINGTON, Texas — Struggling designated hitter Phil Nevin was traded Wednesday by the Texas Rangers to the Chicago Cubs, desperately seeking a bopper to help replace injured slugger Derrek Lee. — The Rangers, who will pay a portion …
Dallas Morning News:
Home not so sweet for Cordero — If you skip the drivel here at the top and go down to the questions and answers, you are going to say: "Why didn't that idiot address what in the world is going on with Francisco Cordero? I know I asked a question about it."
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals fire Baird to clear path for hiring Moore as GM — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Royals fired general manager Allard Baird on this morning in anticipation of announcing the hiring of Atlanta assistant Dayton Moore as his replacement. — The club declined official comment regarding the moves, but Baird confirmed he had been fired.
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals name Moore new GM — Baird dismissed; Jackson interim GM until after draft — OAKLAND — After weeks of speculation, the Royals replaced general manager Allard Baird with Dayton Moore of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. — Baird, the team's general manager since 2000 …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Guy Curtright / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' Moore to become Royals GM — Assistant GM, 39, was considered Schuerholz' heir apparent — Braves assistant general manager Dayton Moore is leaving the team to become general manager of the Kansas City Royals, two people familiar with the deal in Atlanta and Kansas City confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Discussion:
Braves Journal
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Eischen to miss rest of season — Lefty to have surgery on muscle tear in torn rotator cuff — PHILADEPHIA — The Nationals have placed left-hander Joey Eischen on the 60-day disabled list with a muscle tear in his torn left rotator cuff, and the lefty will miss the rest of the season.
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Pauley to start as Wells goes on DL — TORONTO — One day in March, as David Wells pitched in a mock game at the Sox' minor league complex, Double A righthander David Pauley sat behind the backstop charting Wells's pitches as a favor to the coaches. Tonight, he will be taking Wells's turn in the rotation …
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Milledge Hopes to Show He Has Staying Power — Lastings Milledge had an ominous beginning to his first day in the major leagues with the Mets as his flight from Providence, R.I., to LaGuardia Airport was canceled and his second flight was delayed. Milledge was still languishing at the airport …
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Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Nady kept pain hidden — It must have seemed like just another day for Xavier Nady. He showed up at Shea Stadium on Monday, started in rightfield as he almost always does, got hit by a pitch, went 0-for-2 and was removed in a double switch. — Then, before his night was over …
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Advocatus Diaboli — Every once in a while I'll read an article that makes me think that injury analysis is breaking into the mainstream. Bob Klapisch, you had me at Halladay. Powered by Sport Beans—I'm serious!—on to the injuries:
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Yankees shut down Sheffield — Ailing wrist will keep slugger sidelined indefinitely — DETROIT — Gary Sheffield's return to the lineup may prove to be little more than a tease for the Yankees, as the right fielder may be headed back to the disabled list with a wrist injury.
Discussion:
Reb Sox
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Braves ready to break brooms — Los Angeles (30-22) at Atlanta (27-25), 7:35 p.m. ET — Atlanta will look to salvage a game in its three-game series against the Dodgers as Tim Hudson takes the mound on Wednesday night at Turner Field for the Braves — After losing four of their first six games …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
USA Today:
Baseball's Rockies seek revival on two levels — DENVER — No copies of Playboy or Penthouse are in the clubhouse of baseball's Colorado Rockies. There's not even a Maxim. The only reading materials are daily newspapers, sports and car magazines and the Bible.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Notes: Valverde's status unknown — Melvin doesn't reveal nature of Tuesday discussion with closer — NEW YORK — Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin met with struggling closer Jose Valverde on Tuesday afternoon to let the right-hander know whether he planned to keep him in the closer's role …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
