Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Monitoring Rodriguez, Mets Look for Trades — David Wright is one of the few Mets who spend the off-season in New York, which, naturally, makes it easier for him to attend the team's promotional events, oversee his charitable foundations and embrace the community endeavors that have helped …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Persuade Posada to Stay — The Yankees added a fourth year to Jorge Posada's contract offer late last night, and as soon as Posada completes the formality of taking a physical, he will officially return to the team. Posada has agreed to the terms of the deal, which would make him the highest-paid catcher in the majors.
NY Daily News:
With Jorge Posada gone, Mets must unmask new plan — Despite huddling for a power lunch with Jorge Posada and his agents in Manhattan Monday, the Mets will be forced to make a contingency plan to fill their catching vacancy due to the five-time All-Star's pending return to the Yankees.
NY Daily News:
Jorge Posada, Yankees agree on contract — Jorge Posada, the 36-year-old free agent catcher, will remain a Yankee, sources familiar with the negotiations told the Daily News Monday night. — After being schmoozed by Mets general manager Omar Minaya Monday afternoon during a lengthy lunch at Le Cirque …
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
BREAKING NEWS: POSADA TO STAY WITH YANKS — The Yankees took care of a major piece of business tonight, coming to terms with Jorge Posada on a four-year, $52.4 million contract, bringing the All-Star catcher back to finish his career in pinstripes. — The deal comes just hours before other teams …
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Crooked Pitch, Knuckle Curve, MLB Trade Rumors and Replacement Level …
Mark Hale / New York Post:
COMMUNICATION IS LO — METS' INTEREST IN PAUL FADING — There's not much contact right now between the Mets and Paul Lo Duca's representative. Inactivity, apparently, is consuming the relationship. — Andrew Mongelluzzi, Lo Duca's rep, told The Post yesterday in regards to the Mets that "it's been real quiet."
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
No agreement at deadline for Lowell — Mike Lowell's agents and Theo Epstein could not reach an agreement about an hour before the midnight deadline in which the Red Sox had exclusive rights to negotiate with Lowell. — Lowell will now be a complete free-agent and can negotiate with other teams.
Discussion:
Crooked Pitch, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Over the Monster, American Legends and The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yanks' pursuit of Lowell to send A-Rod to Bosox? — Just last week, at the general managers' meetings, Brian Cashman said that he expected Mike Lowell to return to the Red Sox. — But free agents can negotiate with other clubs today, and Lowell, the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 World Series, is still a free agent.
Discussion:
SportsJustice
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Star Dust — Pedroia completes fairy-tale season by being named AL Rookie of the Year — Dustin Pedroia was all smiles yesterday, the broken bone in his hand notwithstanding. (RICK SCUTERI/Reuters) — For a player who thrives on the doubt of others - remember that .172 batting average on May 1 …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:Braun named NL Rookie of the Year
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, Bugs & Cranks, Brewers Bar, Boston Globe, The Crawfish Boxes, The Good Phight and Brew Crew Ball
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: What are the third-base plans? — Beat reporter T.R. Sulllivan answers Rangers fans' questions — Is Texas considering trading Hank Blalock and letting Travis Metcalf play third base every day? Could German Duran handle third? Or would they be trading Blalock when his value is too low?
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Palm Beach Post:
Marlins will seek lower-cost free agents — The Marlins won't be big spenders, but they will be players when the free-agent market opens for business today. — Aside from catcher Yorvit Torrealba, the Marlins also are interested in catcher Michael Barrett and pitcher Mike Maroth, according to industry sources.
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Associated Press:
Pirates hire Corrigan as assistant to GM — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Larry Corrigan, formerly an assistant to Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan, was hired Monday by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a special assistant to new general manager Neal Huntington. — Corrigan spent 20 years …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
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Stan McNeal / Sporting News:
Todd Jones agrees to deal with Tigers — Todd Jones will be returning to the Tigers in 2008. Jones said Monday afternoon that he has agreed to a one-year deal worth $7 million. — Jones is fourth in the majors with 115 saves in the past three seasons behind Francisco Rodriguez, Trevor Hoffman and Joe Nathan.
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
AL Cy Young Award: A two-man race? — Competition appears to be between Beckett and Sabathia — Just when you thought the Yankees and the Red Sox had exhausted all possible manifestation of their intense rivalry ... there went the ballots for the American League Cy Young Award.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Cox, Wren on hand to see Braves in Arizona — I came to see Jordan Schafer play for the Peoria Javelinas tonight here in Surprise, Ariz., and it turns out — surprise, indeed — I'll get to see several other Braves prospects including a hard-throwing right-hander in his fifth Arizona Fall League start …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards, Eckstein are both shopping — Shortstop David Eckstein hit the open market late Monday night looking for an interested team, and the Cardinals will plunge into free agency today seeking a shortstop. — Both sides are letting their eyes wander while not ruling out the likelihood of a reunion.
