Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Girardi Takes First Step Toward a New Legacy — All along, it was going to take an extraordinary candidate to make the Yankees say no to Don Mattingly as their next manager. Mattingly is probably the most beloved Yankee of the last 25 years, and his passion and knowledge of the game are unquestioned.
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ESPN:
Dodgers manager Little resigns, no word on Torre — Stark: Little Treated Unfairly By Dodgers — All the talk was about Joe Torre managing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Only problem was Grady Little was still the manager. — That's not a problem anymore. Little announced on Tuesday night that he was resigning as manager.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Dodgers, Torre agree on three-year deal — The Dodgers and Joe Torre have agreed on a three-year deal worth close to $15 million. Torre could be introduced in Los Angeles as soon as Thursday. — This process was started several day ago. A preliminary agreement was reached on Monday …
ESPN:
Girardi's the right man for the job — By turning the club over to a much younger manager in Joe Girardi and giving him a three-year deal, the Yankees have created a situation in which the manager's incentives more closely reflect the long-term goals of the club, which revolve around young pitchers.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Sources: Little resigns as Dodgers manager — LOS ANGELES - Grady Little has resigned as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to sources, ending a turbulent month between him and the club, and broadening the possibility that the Dodgers will hire Joe Torre as his replacement.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:Joe Girardi managed to sink, swim with Marlins
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets may go for A-Rod — While the Yankee hierarchy and Major League Baseball reacted with outrage at Alex Rodriguez's decision to opt out of his contract on the night of Game 4 of the World Series, the Mets didn't seem to have a problem with it. In fact, early indicators suggest the Mets …
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros interested in Hunter, Rowand — General manager Wade confirms contacting players' agents — HOUSTON — The free-agent filing period officially began on Monday, and already, clubs are contacting agents while laying the groundwork for their offseason plans.
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MLB.com:
Astros sign Ausmus to one-year deal — Catcher returns for 10th season with Houston — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros announced today that the club has re-signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a one-year, $2-million contract, plus incentives. The announcement was made by General Manager Ed Wade.
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
MO MEETING WITH YANKS TODAY — A deal to bring Mariano Rivera back to the Bronx may be in the works, as the All-Star closer and his agent are meeting with the Yankees today at Legends Field. — Fernando Cuza, who represents Rivera, showed up at the Yankees' spring ballpark around 11:45 a.m., accompanied by two of his associates.
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Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
Free Agency? Weird. — Hard to believe that after 21 years in professional baseball, the first day of free agency would come when I was 40 years old. I've not been a free agent for one day of my career before today...... Filing for free agency is weird. I never knew or thought about how it happened.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Sweeney, Riske become free agents — Royals may be interested in re-signing team captain, reliever — KANSAS CITY — Designated hitter Mike Sweeney and pitcher David Riske, two players the Royals might be interested in retaining, filed for free agency on Tuesday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Holliday, others uncertain as business season begins — If only Matt Holliday could live in that snapshot. The night the Rockies clinched the National League Championship Series, he's wearing a smile and swimming goggles, his face splashed with champagne. — The Rockies were in the World Series.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Shelby named O's first base coach — Trembley calls on member of 1983 World Series team to fill one of two remaining vacancies — Orioles manager Dave Trembley today hired John Shelby to be the team's first base coach, calling on the organization's successful past to fill one of two remaining vacancies on his staff.
Nate Silver / Unfiltered:
A-Rod Survivor — THE GRAVEL/TANCREDO MEMORIAL NO-SHOT-IN-BLOODY-HELL DIVISION — 30. Devil Rays - The scary part is that they might not need him. — 29. Royals - No budget for it, and Alex Gordon remains their most valuable long-term keeper at 3B. — 28. Twins - Never big spenders …
Discussion:
Cardinals Diaspora
RELATED:
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox decline Erstad, Myers options — Outfielder, reliever officially file for free agency — CHICAGO — The White Sox declined club options on both outfielder/first baseman Darin Erstad and left-handed reliever Mike Myers, with both veterans officially filing for free agency on Tuesday.
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
King of the mound, lord of the dance — Perhaps the most fun running subplot of the Red Sox charge through the playoffs became the dancing antics of All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. — Papelbon delighted fans after the Sox clinched a playoff berth in the regular season by doing an Irish jig …
Discussion:
Cursed To First
