Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Set to Make Torrealba an Offer He Can't Refuse — The last time the Mets needed a starting catcher, after the 2005 season, they went hard after the top two free agents, Ramón Hernández and Bengie Molina. General Manager Omar Minaya visited both players …
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Associated Press:
Mets, backup catcher Castro closing in on two-year deal — NEW YORK — Ramon A. Castro and the Mets closed in on a two-year contract Tuesday that would keep their second-string catcher in New York. — The deal could be completed sometime soon, according to two people familiar with the negotiations …
Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: Mets To Offer Deal to Torrealba? — According to ESPN Radio's Andrew Marchand, citing the player's agent, the Mets will soon make a contract offer to free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba. — In 113 games for the Rockies this past season, Torrealba hit .255 with eight home runs and 47 RBI, while striking out 73 times in 396 at-bats.
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Sabathia takes home AL Cy Young — Cleveland left-hander beats Boston's Beckett in voting — CLEVELAND — The Cy Young questions sprang up midseason, as C.C. Sabathia consistently put together dominant performances for an Indians team in contention for a division title.
Discussion:
Washington Post, SOX & Dawgs, Sports Frog, FanHouse, Babes Love Baseball, Knuckle Curve, The Joy of Sox and The Crawfish Boxes
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Nate Silver / Sports Illustrated:
Score one for the voters — Sabathia was the right choice for AL Cy Young — Is 20 wins no longer a magic number? It's about time. — This is not the first time that the Cy Young voters have bypassed a 20-game winner like Josh Beckett for a pitcher who didn't win 20, like the 19-7 C.C. Sabathia.
Michael Phillips / MLB.com:
Nationals exhibit stadium's progress — Team president Kasten takes mayor Fenty on tour of new park — WASHINGTON — Twelve months ago, Nationals Park existed as blueprints, computer models and a lot of dirt and concrete. — Today, it is a baseball stadium.
Discussion:
Nationals Journal
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Washington Post:
First Games, Seating Set for Nationals' New Park — Baseball will be played for the first time at Washington's new stadium March 29, when the Nationals host the Baltimore Orioles in an exhibition game. — Nationals executives announced the game yesterday and said that opening day could be as early …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rogers, Hunter on Rangers' wish list — GM Daniels says club is preparing offers to targeted guys — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have expressed interest in bringing back pitcher Kenny Rogers, and have also begun their all-out pursuit of free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers announce 2008 schedule — Club will return to 7:05 p.m. CT start times for night games — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are going back to 7:05 p.m. CT start times for night games during their entire 2008 home schedule, the club announced on Tuesday. — The Rangers experimented …
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rivera Turns the Tables, Making the Yanks Wait — The Yankees' latest offer to Mariano Rivera — three years for $45 million — would make him by far the highest-paid closer ever, and team officials are somewhat surprised he has not yet accepted. The initial offer was for $5 million less …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Alex McPhillips / MLB.com:
Youkilis shaves his beard for charity — Gillette company donates $5,000 for slugger's being shorn — BOSTON — As routes to stardom go, Kevin Youkilis took a different tack. His hirsute forebear, Johnny Damon, was as much defined by his carefree streak as by his long locks.
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Probabilistic Model of Range, Third Basemen, 2007 — The Washington Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman lead the way at third base. — Team Third Basemen PMR, 2007, Visit Smooth Distance Model, 2007 data only — Team In Play Actual Outs Predicted Outs DER Predicted DER Ratio — Nationals — 4591
Joe / Around the Majors:
Twins trade for Craig Monroe — The Twins and Chicago Cubs have been discussing a trade that would send left fielder Craig Monroe to Minnesota for a player to be named, and an announcement could come as soon as today, the Star Tribune has learned. — UPDATE: It's official.
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Arizona Republic:
Arizona looking to woo Reds — Voters in Sarasota, Fla., recently rejected paying for renovations to the Cincinnati Reds' training stadium, which leaves the team looking for a new spring home - and Arizona wondering if it could snare another Florida team. — Eyes are on Tucson …
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds COO Allen steps down — Long-time Cincinnati executive will stay on as consultant — CINCINNATI — John Allen is credited for moving the operation of the Reds franchise into modern times while also rekindling attention to its storied tradition. — Allen announced Tuesday …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
New sensation — Award tops Braun's stellar first season — Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who keeps an open mind on nearly every topic, has read and heard the "suggestions" that Ryan Braun should be moved from third base to the outfield. — At this point, Melvin is ignoring that unsolicited advice.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Rowand leaves door open for return — Free agent to draw much interest, but Philly still a possibility — PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Rowand spent the day before his official availability to all 30 teams in baseball playing 18 holes of golf with Chase Utley. — The teammates …
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Chris Kline / Baseball America:Philadelphia Phillies — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists …
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Phuture Phillies
