Top News:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Interested In Brad Wilkerson — Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald was able to confirm our rumor from yesterday, that the Red Sox have some interest in Brad Wilkerson. Bradford says Wilkerson, a Boras client, is looking for three years and $21MM. I don't think the Sox would go anywhere near that price.
RELATED:
Bradford Files:
Wilkerson in the mix — As was first suggested by MLB Trade Rumors, it has been learned that the Red Sox do have some interest in outfielder/first baseman Brad Wilkerson, although there still figures to be healthy competition for the free agent. It has been reported that he is asking for a three year deal worth $21 million.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Friend says Pettitte wasn't pals with Clemens — A mutual friend of Roger Clemens, left, and Andy Pettitte, right, says the two were never as close as the media made them out to be. (AP Photo) — Andy Pettitte is said by friends to be upset with Roger Clemens because of Clemens' aggressive defense …
Vince Gennaro / Yahoo! Sports:
Santana not worth the tariff — Any contending team in a major market would want Johan Santana to anchor its starting rotation. Yet the Minnesota Twins have not been able to trade the two-time Cy Young award winner despite months-long talks with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and more recently, the New York Mets.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Talks stall on trade for Roberts — With less than four weeks left before pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Cubs are still pushing hard to add players, but their long-running efforts to make a deal with the Baltimore Orioles may have hit a dead end.
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Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
Another year like 99 others for Cubs — According to one headline, this weekend's Cubs Convention was expected to provide a “glimpse of what's on the way." — What would that be? Blood? Pain? Regret? Carlos Zambrano's right arm falling off? Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers' ownership group buying the Cubs?
Discussion:
Siberian Baseball
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays aim to be destination spot — ST. PETERSBURG - Having spent considerable time and money over the past 27 months trying to make the Rays at least competitive, principal owner Stuart Sternberg took a break from writing checks Friday to acknowledge their progress.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Sarah Rothschild / MiamiHerald.com:
A-Rod turns mentor for UM ballplayer — A UM ballplayer meets his idol — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez — and gets to train with him — New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez is used to being followed by fans. — But one college-age kid who followed Rodriguez around …
Dayn Perry / Fox Sports:
A position-by-position look at MLB's best — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the new book, “Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones” (Available now at Amazon.com). — With pitchers and catchers set to report in less than a month, it's time to start thinking about the 2008 season.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Cano & Wang seek hefty raises; Yanks ink Betemit — The Yankees received bargain-rate production for most of the past three seasons from Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang. — No more. — The youthful Yanks want hefty pay raises more in line with the salaries of many of their veteran teammates in 2008 …
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New York Times:
Name of Possible Witness Emerges in an Audiotape — For the past five years, it has been Jim Murray's job to tend to the needs of the New York-area clients of Hendricks Sports Management, the Texas agency that built its name on its representation of Roger Clemens.
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JSOnline:
Brewers like Gwynn, but not as a full-time player just yet — Before, during and after Doug Melvin's successful pursuit of free agent Mike Cameron, some fans were asking why the Milwaukee Brewers general manager was unwilling to commit to young Tony Gwynn Jr. in center field in 2008.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Seeking bigger role, Sosa won't return to Rangers — Sammy Sosa won't be back for another season in Texas. — Rangers GM Jon Daniels and Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, told ESPN.com on Friday night that Texas was interested in bringing Sosa back in a more limited role than last season.
Discussion:
Knuckle Curve
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Sign Affeldt — According to Ken Rosenthal, the Reds signed southpaw Jeremy Affeldt to a one-year, $3MM deal plus performance bonuses. First and foremost the Reds view him as a cheap rotation option, but they'll move him to the pen if it doesn't work out. — I'm very surprised that he signed for just one year.
