Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Report: Mets targeting Eckstein — Career shortstop would convert to second base in New York — NEW YORK — Thinking — and acting — outside the box, as general manager Omar Minaya says he likes to do, the Mets are pursuing a career shortstop to play second base and provide some of the fire the team lacked last season.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets eye David Eckstein — Mets officials dined with free-agent infielder David Eckstein in Greenwich, Conn., this week in the hopes he'll fill the second base vacancy in Flushing. — By employing the same kind of treatment that wooed Billy Wagner and Tom Glavine during previous offseasons …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets never made Paul Lo Duca an offer — Paul Lo Duca's representative wants to make one thing clear: The Mets never, ever made the catcher an offer. Not even for one year at $1 million. — "Paul is disappointed," agent Andrew Mongelluzzi said. "New York is his home. He's real fond of New York.
ESPN:
Reports: Yanks' interest in Lowell as 1B waning — While several media outlets are reporting that the New York Yankees are offering free agent third baseman Mike Lowell a luctrative deal to play first base, it appears the Yankees' interest in the World Series MVP may be waning.
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FanHouse
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox, Lowell keep talking — Lucchino: 'We want him back' … The Red Sox [team stats] continued to speak with representatives for free agent third baseman Mike Lowell yesterday, but team sources said that details about how the talks are proceeding and whether the club is pressing for a resolution are private.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Lowell honored at Disney parade — World Series MVP enjoys day at Magic Kingdom in Florida — BOSTON — Free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell was able to take a little break from the stress of contract negotiations by serving as the honorary grand marshal in Friday's Disney Dreams Come True parade at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.
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Surviving Grady
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Rogers fires agent Boras — likely signals lefty's return to Tigers — Kenny Rogers fired Scott Boras as his agent Friday, a development that could hasten Rogers' return to the Tigers for the 2008 season. — Rogers is now representing himself, the Tigers confirmed.
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Lynn Henning / Detroit News:
Rogers fires agent Boras — Kenny Rogers, whose signing had been an off-season priority for the Tigers, may have moved closer to a 2008 contract with the Tigers Friday when he abruptly fired his high-profile agent, Scott Boras. — Rogers, a 43-year-old left-hander who has won …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Rumors of Drug Use Have Damaged for Decades — Barry Bonds may go to jail if a jury believes he lied about using steroids. Many other players could face suspensions next season if George Mitchell identifies them in his coming investigative report on steroids in baseball.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Astros acquire Villarreal from Braves — Club initiates contact with second baseman Iguchi — HOUSTON — The Astros acquired reliever Oscar Villarreal from Atlanta in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson on Friday in a move to bolster the back end of the bullpen.
Fox Sports:
Bonds and Rose, baseball's modern villains — LIKE THIS STORY? — In baseball, villains are as much a part of the game's history as home runs and strikeouts. — Over the years, you've had superstars who also doubled as racists (Ty Cobb, Cap Anson), game-fixers (Hal Chase, the 1919 White Sox) …
Joe Pawlikowski / MLB Trade Rumors:
Miguel Carbera to drop weight — Miguel Cabrera has spoken to LasMayores.com, the Spanish version of MLB.com. Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald relays the information. Apparently, Cabrera is at least saying that he plans to get into better shape this off-season so that he can …
NY Daily News:
Ma Dorothy goes to bat for Derek Jeter — Don't you dare call my son a tax cheat! — Derek Jeter's mother defended him Friday amid allegations he sidestepped state taxes by declaring Florida his home state when he really lives in New York. — "He pays his taxes," Dorothy Jeter told the Daily News.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves may be close to signing Glavine — Original offer worth about $7 million; agent makes counterproposal — Tom Glavine was believed to be close to signing with the Braves after receiving an initial offer from the team Friday and making a counterproposal Friday night.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Royals dip into Japanese market — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Royals, dipping into the Japanese market, are close to signing free-agent reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta to a two-year contract with a player option for a third season, according to major-league sources.
Associated Press:
White House drug czar hails Bonds indictment — MADRID, Spain (AP) — American anti-doping officials hailed Barry Bonds' indictment as an example of how far the United States has come in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs. — "This is just another story related to the big picture …
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ShysterBall
