Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox make 'really strong' offer to Lowell … ORLANDO — While they are not sending out any take-it-or-leave-it signals to his camp, the Red Sox [team stats] made a three-year guaranteed offer to third baseman Mike Lowell, that one club source described yesterday as "really strong."
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Waiting on Lowell — ORLANDO— Most of the GMs looking for a third baseman were waiting to see whether Mike Lowell would accept Boston's three-year offer (money offer is unknown at this time), which has been out there for a couple of days and may be firm. If he takes it, it sets the ball rolling …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
11 free agents in Mitchell report — ORLANDO — Player agents who attended yesterday's union meeting in New York were told that 11 current free agent players are named in the George Mitchell report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, which could come out sometime around …
Discussion:
MLB.com, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, Fox Sports, MetsBlog.com, SOX & Dawgs, FanHouse and Chop-n-Change
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Union: 11 free agents were sought in Mitchell talks — ORLANDO, Fla. — No more than 11 players from this year's free-agent class were asked to speak with George Mitchell as part of his investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, a union official told agents this week.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Astros send Lidge, Bruntlett to Phillies — Speedy center fielder Bourn among three headed to Houston — ORLANDO, Fla. — Houston traded closer Brad Lidge and utility infielder Eric Bruntlett to Philadelphia late Wednesday night in a five-player swap that landed outfielder Michael Bourn …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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MLB.com:
Astros acquire Bourn, Costanzo, Geary from Philadelphia — Phillies receive Lidge, Bruntlett — HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros today acquired outfielder Michael Bourn, third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange …
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays usher in new era with new identity — Costner leads celebration introducing franchise's altered image — ST. PETERSBURG — A palpable vibe reflecting a new beginning resonated throughout Straub Park on Thursday afternoon, where the Devil Rays officially became the Rays …
Discussion:
The Griddle
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
MacPhail satisfied with work at GM meetings — Club doesn't make any deals, but O's executive says information collected will pay off in future — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail departed the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:Interest in Cabrera widespread
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, The San Francisco Giants Blog, Camden Chat, Los Angeles Times, FishStripes, Hot Foot and Marlins Today
Associated Press:
Torre to recall Yankees years in new memoir — NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Torre, named last week as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers after ending a 12-year reign with the New York Yankees, is working on a memoir. — The book, currently untitled, will be co-authored by Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci …
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies make it clear: Atkins is their man — ORLANDO, Fla. — So much for the curiosity about who's on third for the Rockies. — General manager Dan O'Dowd, admitting there have been inquiries from other teams about third baseman Garrett Atkins, said Wednesday he has declined to get involved in trade discussions.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Phil Allard / NYYFans.com:
O Captain! My Captain! Rise up and Hear the Bells — Dave Pinto over at Baseball Musings just posted his Probabilistic Model of Range for Shortstops in the 2007 season. This year Dave worked out the models both by team and by individual. I've listed his findings below.
Discussion:
FanHouse
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Kim Tong-hyung / The Korea Times:
Park Returns to Dodgers — With his Major League Baseball (MLB) career hanging by a thread, Park Chan-ho is heading back to where the magic all started. — The 33-year-old South Korean said Thursday he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he started his Major League career in 1994 …
Discussion:
Reuters, Associated Press, 6-4-2, Dodger Thoughts, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and True Blue LA
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Nothing on the front burner — I talked an hour or so ago with Doug Melvin, who was at the airport in Orlando, waiting to return from the general managers' meetings there. Melvin said he had no trades imminent after talking with other GMs for four days. — "I had conversations with a lot of clubs," he said.
ESPN.com:
Players' union worried about collusion over A-Rod — ORLANDO, Fla. — The baseball players' union is worried commissioner Bud Selig is trying to hold down the price of Alex Rodriguez's next contract and that teams might be sharing information about their free-agent plans.
