Top News:
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Asia major, not minor: Club plans to search Far East and wide — Larry Lucchino wants to make it clear that the acquisition of pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka marks only the start of a relationship between the Red Sox [team stats] and Japanese baseball, rather than the end.
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Creature comforts were worth wait for all concerned
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Right down to the wire: Sox almost left empty-handed
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:Officially, The New No. 18 — BOSTON — The choice of uniform number …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Is Ichiro San Fran-bound in 2008? — Fear not, Giants fans. The team's 2007 edition will be another Senior League special, but after that club officials could replace Barry Bonds with a far more appealing star. — How does Ichiro sound? — San Francisco, with its huge Japanese community …
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Wells about to sign $126-million extension — In one of the bigger upsets of the off-season, the Blue Jays are on the verge of signing center fielder Vernon Wells to a seven-year, $126 million contract extension. — An agreement between the Jays and Wells is close, according to major-league sources.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Odds 'better than 50-50' that Wells will sign … Outfielder Vernon Wells is involved in serious negotiations toward a seven-year, $126 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, and the two sides hope to have a deal in place by the end of the weekend, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
ESPN:
Rays' waiver claim on Livingston voided by MLB — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' claim and subsequent trade of left-handed pitcher Bobby Livingston was voided by the commissioner's office Thursday, and Livingston then was awarded to the Cincinnati Reds. — The Devil Rays have the highest waiver …
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Deal expected today … ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays late Thursday were on the verge of completing a three-year deal for Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura and plan to make an announcement today. — "We've made further progress and we are extremely optimistic we will have a positive announcement …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Rangers and Devil Rays to move 3-game series to Kissimmee — KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Regular-season major league ball is headed to Disney World. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' effort to bolster fan support and make themselves a regional franchise will include playing a three-game series …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets ready for sitdown with Zito — The Mets are working to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Barry Zito, their top remaining free-agent target, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday. A date and location have not yet been decided, although it will likely be next week.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Dallas Morning News:
How to pitch to Zito: A little outside — Daniels needs to be creative to land big fish where there's no ocean — Having missed on Barry Zito the first time he came available, before they knew what they had, the Rangers seem determined to avoid repeating history.
Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
PRICE HIGH FOR METS TO IMPROVE BULLPEN — On Wednesday afternoon in Shea Stadium, GM Omar Minaya admitted he still can improve the Met bullpen for 2007. — "Yes we could," Minaya said emphatically. "And we are going to try to improve our bullpen." — Unfortunately, one of the best options …
George King / New York Post:
YANKS MAY GIVE DOUG DEAL — Before the Yankees make Doug Mientkiewicz a contract offer they want to see the medical report from Dr. Robert Watkins who operated on the first baseman's back. — The Yankees, who have experienced back troubles with pitchers Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson lately …
RELATED:
Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Nationals obtain financial flexibility — Piece-by-piece, deal-by-deal, the Washington Nationals have transformed themselves over the last six months from a "mid-budget" club of veterans with several burdensome, long-term commitments into a "low-budget" squad of young players with loads of financial flexibility moving forward.
RELATED:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Gonzalez drawing heavy interest — Eight minor-leaguers signed, including Wasdin — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Where Mike Gonzalez will pitch next season remains a mystery, but this much is not: The interest in him is mounting. — It is believed that no fewer …
RELATED:
Rob Biertempfel / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Bucs show interest in Pineiro — TRIBUNE-REVIEW — The Pirates are eyeing free-agent right-hander Joel Pineiro as a possible fifth starter for their 2007 rotation. — Pineiro, 28, became a free agent Tuesday when the Mariners did not offer him arbitration.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Baltimore Sun:
Angelos: No Ripken sale … Orioles owner Peter Angelos adamantly denied a foxsports.com report last night that said he is talking to a group that includes Cal Ripken about buying the club. — "There is no question that Cal and I have a great relationship," Angelos said.
RELATED:
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Sights set on Suppan — Right-hander pitches well in Miller Park — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — If Jeff Suppan could pitch nearly as effectively for the Milwaukee Brewers as he has against them, it's easy to see why they're interested in pursuing the free agent right-hander.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
Minor League Guns — Young catchers are somewhat unique among prospects: a reputation as a good or bad defender can be the difference between a career spent as a backup catcher and one that tops out with a failed transition to first or third base. However, like so many issues in prospect analysis …
