Top News:
NY Daily News:
Yankees look to bring A-Rod back - on their terms — Alex Rodriguez may be headed back to the Bronx after all — but on the Yankees' terms. — Despite all of the back-and-forth posturing between the Yankees and A-Rod's camp, the Daily News learned today that the two sides have been discussing …
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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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, Mets Today, FanHouse, Kranepool Society, Can't Stop The Bleeding and New York Times
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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 …
Mark Hale / New York Post:CATCHER & THE BUY — TORREALBA EXPECTING OFFER FROM METS
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Red Sox, A's Japan-bound in 2008 — Meeting marks fifth international MLB regular-season opener — NAPLES, Fla. — Major League Baseball is opening its regular season in Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome next March for the third time, it was announced on Wednesday, with the defending World Series-champion Red Sox facing the A's.
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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 …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Melvin named NL Manager of the Year — D-backs' manager steered his club to NL-best 90 victories — PHOENIX — Bob Melvin may downplay the role he played in getting the D-backs to a National League-best 90 wins and the playoffs this past season, but it doesn't appear that postseason awards voters are buying it.
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Associated Press:
Indians' Wedge, D-backs' Melvin are top skippers — NEW YORK — Eric Wedge and Bob Melvin, former backup catchers who found far more success in the dugout than on the field, were honored Wednesday as managers of the year. — Wedge became the first Cleveland manager to win the AL award …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Hunter to Dodgers just makes sense — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Dodgers are desperate for offense. They want to upgrade in center field. They need a veteran leader to mend their clubhouse. — Perhaps more than any club, they would benefit from the addition of Torii Hunter.
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Here are the names — Among the many paragraphs trimmed by editors from my Ryan Braun story in the JS this morning was the final paragraph of the notes about free-agent relievers the Brewers are interested in. — That was unfortunate because that paragraph named some of the relievers the Brewers might target.
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 …
RELATED:
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:Jones Could Be Biggest Steal of Free Agent Market
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
'A World Series team' — That's how Lou Piniella — who today will learn if he is Manager of the Year for '07 — sees the Cubs by '09, Gordon Wittenmyer reports — TAMPA, Fla. — For four games in 1961, Emeterio Cuesta played on the same American Legion Post 248 baseball team in Tampa …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards willing to deal Rolen — The Cardinals no longer deny the increasingly obvious: Scott Rolen is in play. — General manager John Mozeliak confirmed Tuesday meeting with Rolen's agents and discussing the Gold Glove third baseman's availability for trade during last week's GM meetings in Orlando, Fla.
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.
Michael Salfino / SNY.tv:
Prospects hone skills in the desert — Mets have several solid prospects in the Arizona Fall League — Last year, over 75 players in the Arizona Fall League reached the majors and 12 were on opening day rosters. NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun became the AFL poster boy …
