Top News:
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
A Little History Shows Why The MLBPA Talks Collusion — This evening, MLB Players Association (MLBPA) Executive Director Donald Fehr issued the following statement in which the MLBPA announced its plan to investigate comments attributed to MLB personnel with regards to the pending free agent market:
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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.
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FanHouse, MY BASEBALL BIAS, MLB Trade Rumors, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Boston Herald
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
A-Rod's team wary of Cabrera — A Rodriguez-Cabrera comparison — Statistics through age 24 for Miguel Cabrera (who will turn 25 on April 18) and Alex Rodriguez, 32: — Player Avg. OBP Slug. OPS HR RBI — Rodriguez .308 .363 .551 .916 148 463 — Cabrera .313 .388 .542 .930 138 523
Murray Chass / New York Times:Is It Collusion or Friendly Chats?
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox make Lowell an offer — 3-year deal worth $12-15M per … ORLANDO, Fla. - The Red Sox [team stats] made what one club source yesterday called a "really strong" three-year guaranteed offer between $12 million and $15 million per year to Mike Lowell at the just-concluded general managers meetings.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees not making any progress with Jorge Posada — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The general managers' meetings wrapped up yesterday, but Brian Cashman and the Yankees are no closer to solving any of their problems than they were when the sessions began four days ago.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:Waiting on Lowell — ORLANDO— Most of the GMs looking …
Discussion:
FanHouse, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Over the Monster and NY Daily News
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Santana Could Fill a Big Hole for the Yanks — The general managers meetings are the appetizer of the baseball off-season, a chance for teams to gauge the market for trades and free agents. The winter meetings next month will be more intense, and with Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins expected …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets GM Minaya wants to acquire frontline starter — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Mets departed the general managers' meetings yesterday cautiously optimistic that they'll have a chance to pursue their greatest offseason desire. — No, not Alex Rodriguez. A frontline starting pitcher.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
A-Rod or not, Mets will try to bolster starting rotation — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Scott Boras' late-night presentation to Omar Minaya regarding Alex Rodriguez may have dominated the headlines, but before Mets brass departed the GM meetings yesterday afternoon, it had laid groundwork for more practical …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Torre will write book on Yankee years — Joe Torre's messy divorce from the Yankees seemed as if it were covered more extensively than the last presidential election. But for those who need more of the lurid details and wish to relive the glory of the "Torre Era" in the Bronx …
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
GM: Helton won't have to deal with trade rumors — ORLANDO, FLA. — It was 11 months ago during a workout at Coors Field that Todd Helton told teammates he expected to be traded to the Boston Red Sox. — Don't look for a similar seismic event this winter.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals interested in Andruw Jones — Gold Glover still unsure about where he will play next season — WASHINGTON — The Nationals would like free agent Andruw Jones to be their center fielder in 2008. Would Jones like to be a member of the Nationals? All he would say is, he has not made any decisions about his future.
Discussion:
Nats320
Scott Lauber / delawareonline:
Giving up closing role tough for Myers — Starter-turned-reliever understands Phillies need him back in rotation — When he threw the pitch Sept. 30 that clinched the Phillies' first division title since 1993, Brett Myers, a starter all his life, fell in love with being a closer.
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Canadian Press
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins targeting Torrealba to fill need at catcher — Colorado Rockies' Yorvit Torrealba (front) and Manny Corpas watch from the dugout during the ninth inning of Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the Boston Red Sox. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip / October 28, 2007)
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 …
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Boras continues to be champion of manipulating media — Just as it was with the Yankees, there is a prevailing opinion, presented as fact in the media, that it will benefit the Mets to overpay Alex Rodriguez because his presence would increase the value - and significantly enhance the ratings - of SportsNet New York.
Discussion:
Sabernomics
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Ordonez named Tiger of the Year — Prolific season one of the best in club history — DETROIT — This was one MVP-type award where Magglio Ordonez didn't have to worry about Alex Rodriguez. — The Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America made its Tiger …
Discussion:
Tiger Tales
