Top News:
Newsday:
Mets close to a deal with catcher Torrealba — Having lost out on Jorge Posada, the Mets are wasting no time in trying to close a deal with Yorvit Torrealba, and it looks like an agreement could be struck by the end of this week. — General manager Omar Minaya, spurned by Posada's decision …
RELATED:
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 …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets get close on Ramon Castro, target Yorvit Torrealba — Backup catcher Ramon Castro neared a deal with the Mets Tuesday night, while team officials appeared to be zeroing in on a No. 1 at the position, too. With Jorge Posada headed back to the Yankees, the Mets were expected …
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
A-Rod might have staying power with Yankees — If Alex Rodriguez wants to come back to the Yankees, and there are people close to him in Miami who think he does, here is how it happens, and maybe happens soon: — He starts by going to Tampa and meeting with George Steinbrenner …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Nothing new on Lowell … If they have not already, a handful of teams that include the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, most prominently, are expected to make free agent Mike Lowell an offer he can't refuse in the coming days. — The Red Sox [team stats] are still in Lowell's sights …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Rivera Turns the Tables, Making the Yanks Wait
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers talk with Hunter, interested in Rogers — Team may also be interested in bringing Rogers back to the table — egrant@dallasnews.com — The Rangers are taking a proactive approach to their pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter. — And they wouldn't mind reconciling with Kenny Rogers, either.
RELATED:
Sabernomics:
ESPN's Keith Law Interview — Sabernomics readers ought to be familiar with Keith Law, a former member of the Toronto Blue Jays front office who is now the lead baseball analyst for ESPN's Scouts Inc. Last year, I had the good fortune to meet Keith while scouting Josh Smoker in my neck of the woods.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves to meet with Glavine's agent — Conference in Phoenix area first chance to discuss money — ATLANTA — While many Braves fans might have already made the assumption that Tom Glavine will be enjoying a homecoming during the 2008 season, Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, says his client hasn't made any decisions or assumptions.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Will frugal Padres shell out bucks? — Team checking out free-agent market — Padres CEO Sandy Alderson isn't predicting his club will spend large sums on free agents - but he said the midrevenue franchise has significant dollars to spend. The Padres, unlike many clubs …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Jones Could Be Biggest Steal of Free Agent Market — In free agency, the winning team is usually the one that spends the least. Over the last five years, the two best free agent contracts were, between them, worth less than $2 million. One was the $1.25 million deal David Ortiz signed …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
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.
RELATED:
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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Chuck King / Palm Beach Post:
Roger Dean Stadium gets new GM — The Florida Marlins have chosen Joe Pinto to be Roger Dean Stadium's new general manager. — Pinto will oversee operations for the Jupiter ballpark which serves as the spring training home of the Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the Florida State League's Jupiter and Palm Beach clubs.
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
Marc Lancaster / TBO.com:
Percival On Rays' Radar — The Rays could have two potential closers in their bullpen entering next spring if they can persuade veteran RHP Troy Percival to come to Tampa Bay. — Percival's agent, Paul Cohen, said Tuesday that the Rays are among about 10 teams interested in the 38-year-old pitcher …
