Top News:
Associated Press:
Perez agrees to one-year deal with Mets — Left-hander will compete in Spring Training for spot in rotation — NEW YORK — Postseason savior Oliver Perez and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a one-year contract worth $2,325,000. — Acquired July 31 from Pittsburgh with reliever Roberto Hernandez …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets hopeful after Perez re-signs — Club keeps southpaw, close to deal with righty Sosa — NEW YORK — Rick Peterson, the Mets' pitching coach, seldom moves through the team's Spring Training clubhouse at a leisurely pace. He always has some place to be, someone to see — and, come February, someone to fix.
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:Is Scott Schoeneweis Any Good? — The Mets are closing …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies trade for Rodrigo Lopez — The Rockies acquired Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez today in exchange for minor leaguers Jim Miller and Jason Burch, hoping the veteran's experience and ability to eat up innings helps the rotation. — "I am pretty happy and excited.
Discussion:
Purple Row
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's trade R. Lopez to Rockies for two relievers … Content with their starting pitching depth, the Orioles today have agreed to trade right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, their Opening Day starter three of the past five seasons, to the Colorado Rockies for two minor leaguers.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Joe Mandak / Associated Press:
Nutting to replace McClatchy as Pirates' controlling owner — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates chairman of the board Robert Nutting will replace Kevin McClatchy as controlling owner of the team. — McClatchy, who headed the group that bought the team before the 1996 season …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats sign pitchers Williams, Claussen — Team adds depth by agreeing to terms with veteran hurlers — WASHINGTON — In need of pitching depth, the Nationals agreed to terms with Jerome Williams and Brandon Claussen on Friday. — If Williams makes the 25-man roster out of Spring Training …
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Associated Press:
Nelson calls it quits as a Yankee — Pitcher agrees to minor league contract, then retires — NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff Nelson wanted to retire as a member of the New York Yankees, so he agreed Friday to a minor league contract and then said he wouldn't play anymore.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
RELATED:
yesnetwork.com:
Former Yankee Jeff Nelson retires — The New York Yankees announced that right-handed pitcher Jeff Nelson - who earlier Friday was signed by the Yankees and invited to Spring Training - has announced his retirement. — Nelson, 40, was a member of four World Championship teams with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Discussion:
Off the Facade
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
A's make play for free agent Erstad — Assistant GM Forst confirms one-year contract offer — OAKLAND — The A's have made a one-year contract offer to free-agent first baseman/outfielder Darin Erstad, MLB.com learned on Friday afternoon. — Oakland assistant general manager David Forst …
Discussion:
The Pastime
Associated Press:
Cubs, Tomas Perez reach minor league deal — CHICAGO (AP) — Infielder Tomas Perez agreed to a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Friday and will be invited to the major league spring training camp. — Perez, 33, batted .212 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 99 games for Tampa Bay last season.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright prepares to start again — ROLE CHANGE The closer on the Cards' 2006 World Series champs will compete for a spot in the rotation. — STILL MOTIVATED: Despite his success last season, Wainwright is taking nothing for granted. — Mark Mulder was, naturally …
Phil Rogers / ESPN:
Relocating a team to Portland makes sense — The idea of baseball in Portland, Ore., is new for a lot of people. But it has been a lifetime habit for Boston Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky, and he's 87 years old. — Pesky was born in 1919 and grew up following his hometown Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Willis, Cabrera, Morneau and Mauer head arbitration filings — NEW YORK (AP) — Batting champions Joe Mauer and Freddy Sanchez and AL MVP Justin Morneau were among 106 players who filed Friday for salary arbitration, set to get big raises for next season. — Florida's Dontrelle Willis …
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
AP Interview: Sweeney eager to move forward from situation with Bonds — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mark Sweeney insists he never had any amphetamines in his locker for San Francisco teammate Barry Bonds to take. — Sweeney said Friday he was shocked to learn that Bonds apparently mentioned …
Associated Press:
Dodgers to open all-you-can-eat section — LOS ANGELES — Right field at Dodger Stadium used to feature cheap seats. This year, there will be lots of food and seats that are no longer cheap. — The Los Angeles Dodgers are converting their right-field pavilion into all-you-can-eat bleachers.
Discussion:
With Leather
