Top News:
Associated Press:
Guillen and Tigers agree to $48 million, 4-year extension — LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Shortstop Carlos Guillen and the Detroit Tigers agreed Friday to a $48 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season. — Guillen is making $5 million this season, the last of a $14 million, three-year deal.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Sports Illustrated:
Four more years — Guillen agrees to $48 million extension with Tigers — Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen has agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension to stay in Detroit through 2011, SI.com has learned. — Guillen, who batted .320 with 19 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2006 in helping …
Associated Press:
Rogers has blood clot removed; likely out until July — LAKELAND, Fla. — Kenny Rogers is out until at least the All-Star break, leaving the Detroit Tigers to defend their AL pennant without one of their top pitchers. — Two days after saying his arm felt tired, Rogers had surgery Friday …
Associated Press:
Pirates cut Kolb, keep Kelly and Wasdin — BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Dan Kolb, a former All-Star closer with the Milwaukee Brewers, was reassigned to the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league camp on Friday and is looking for another major league job. — The Pirates had until Friday to notify Kolb whether he would make their 25-man roster.
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John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
How the Pittsburgh Pirates Can Win the World Series — Brad talks with Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield about the Pirates' chances on Baseball Prospectus Radio. Click to download the mp3. — The last time Bud Selig was in Pittsburgh, he used the words hope and faith and nearly got laughed out of the Steel City.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees make roster decisions — Phelps, Nieves among those to win jobs with Bombers — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees' 25-man roster is set to go north, a little younger and less expensive than some anticipated, and with just one exhibition game standing between Legends Field and Yankee Stadium.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano's deal appears nearly sealed — Hendry optimistic he'll beat deadline — LAS VEGAS — Negotiations over Carlos Zambrano's contract extension heated up Friday with a face-to-face meeting between general manager Jim Hendry and the pitcher's agent, Barry Praver.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Associated Press:
Cubs 8, Mariners 5 — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — LAS VEGAS — Aramis Ramirez and Michael Barrett each had two-run homers to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Seattle Mariners 8-5 Friday night. — Ramirez and Barrett, who each went 2-for-4, both hit line-drive homers down the left-field line.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preston Wilson says racial issues remain in baseball — MEMPHIS, TENN. — When it announced the first annual Civil Rights Game between the Cardinals and Cleveland Indians less than four months ago, Major League Baseball envisioned this weekend as a commemoration of the civil rights movement …
Discussion:
Lady At The Bat
Danny Knobler / MLive.com blog:
Rogers out for 3 months after surgery to remove blood clot — LAKELAND, Fla. — Kenny Rogers will be out three months after surgery this morning to remove a blood clot and repair arteries in his left shoulder. — Dr. Greg Pearl performed the surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards release Rincon — MEMPHIS — Eschewing the path of least resistance, the Cardinals on Friday morning released veteran lefthanded reliever Ricardo Rincon. — The move, made hours before the team boarded buses to leave its Jupiter, Fla., spring training base, effectively sets …
Joseph Santoliquito / MLB.com:
Red Sox homer past Phillies — Ramirez, Pedroia, Drew, Youkilis deliver long balls — RED SOX 6, PHILLIES 5 — Red Sox at the plate: Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis all homered, responsible for five of Boston's six runs. Youkilis' homer was a two-run shot, the other three were solo blasts.
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Major accomplishment — For Sissy Wood, the calls are part of her daily routine. — One as her husband, Jason Wood, is heading to the park. One after batting practice. One after the game. — During the spring, that means a 3:30 a.m. wake-up at her home in Fresno, Calif. "I'm a farmer's daughter," she says.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Soriano staying in center—for now — Piniella predicts his fielding will improve — LAS VEGAS — Alfonso Soriano's transition to center field this spring has been rough, as befits a player who has spent most of his career at second base. — Asked before Friday night's game how much Soriano …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Notes: Owings named the No. 5 starter — Right-hander was a combined 16-2 in the Minors during 2006 — PEORIA, Ariz. — And the No. 5 starter will be... Micah Owings. — D-backs manager Bob Melvin announced after Friday afternoon's game that Owings will get the nod April 6 …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Q&A with manager Ned Yost — Even at 8 a.m., after his eighth cup of coffee, it's difficult to get Brewers manager Ned Yost to talk about anything other than his favorite topic: Today. — He's a famously "one-day-at-a-time" kind of guy, to the chagrin of anyone trying to get his thoughts on the big picture.
