Top News:
Newsday:
Mets, Yorvit talks break down — The Mets' negotiations with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed on Saturday and the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea for next season after all. — The two sides already had agreed on a three-year contract worth $14.4-million and it appeared …
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Torrealba back in play — Free agent Yorvit Torrealba is back in play, an industry source said today. The Rockies conceded Thursday their catcher was gone when he agreed in principle on a three-year, $14.4 million deal with the New York Mets. — However, there has been a hangup this weekend …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: Torrealba Deal Collapses with Mets — According to Ken Davidoff and David Lennon in Newsday, despite already agreeing to a three-year deal, talks between the Mets and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba 'collapsed' on Saturday, meaning, 'the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea.'
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets end talks with catcher Torrealba — Club official says deal was never a given, despite agreement — NEW YORK — The Mets' search for a starting catcher, seemingly complete as late as Thursday night, has been renewed because the club no longer is moving toward signing free-agent backstop Yorvit Torrealba as it had planned.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, The MLB Source, Can't Stop The Bleeding, MetsBlog.com, Hot Foot, Amazin' Avenue and FIRE JOE MORGAN
RELATED:
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.
NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi's visit with Mariano Rivera good sign for Yankees — There could be a thaw in the contract negotiations between the Yankees and Mariano Rivera. — Sources familiar with both the club's and the closer's thinking said Friday there were increasing signs that Rivera will accept …
RELATED:
New York Post:
MARIANO RIVERA EXPECTED TO TAKE THE YANKEES' 3-YEAR OFFER — Despite not getting the fourth year he desired, closer Mariano Rivera is expected to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer early next week. — After returning from the Dominican Republic tonight …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Talk, talk, talk — The clock seems to be ticking on the Mike Lowell negotiations with a possible resolution getting closer. Theo Epstein and the Levinson Brothers, Lowell's agents, continued their negotiations Saturday, but as of early evening there had been no conclusion.
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
The Griddle
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) …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Plenty of talent available for a reasonable price … One common theme voiced by front-office executives at the GM meetings in Orlando was that the barren free-agent market would generate more trade activity. With that in mind, here are 10 players — currently out of favor or simply out of room …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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.
RELATED:
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.
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.
