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San Diego Union-Tribune:
Clark, Padres agree on contract — UNION-TRIBUNE FROM STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS — The Padres and pinch-hitter/first baseman Tony Clark have agreed to the basics of a one-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $900,000, but it may take another day or two to work out the details.
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NY Daily News:
Lupica: Clemens turns it into joke — These are no longer congressional hearings anybody can take seriously. They have turned into nothing more than a show, and occasionally a clown show, before they even start up again, Roger Clemens having been allowed to go door-to-door with his story …
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My Pinstripes
Mike Fish / ESPN:Radomski: ‘I believe Brian is telling the truth’
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New York Post, Baseball Musings, YanksBlog.com, SOX1FAN, BASEBALL HOT CORNER and New York Times
George A. King III / New York Post:
YOUTH & NAIL — YOUNG YANKS WILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE PLAYOFFS — When Alex Rodriguez opted out of his Yankee contract during the World Series, the Bombers had a chance to rebuild around the young pitching that has prompted premature adulation. — They should have let Rodriguez dance out of The Bronx …
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Jonah Keri / Yes Network:
Projecting the '08 Yankees — Baseball Prospectus' projection system looks at the prospects key players — Jorge Posada enjoyed a career year in 2007. — For baseball fans, there's no darker period than the 3 ½ months between the final pitch of the World Series and the day players start reporting to Spring Training.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Hanley Ramirez must wait for windfall — Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, right, hugs Yovan Ayes, 6, while signing autographs at the Marlins' annual FanFest in Miami, Saturday. (AP/Lynne Sladky / February 9, 2008) — Not long after Marlins President David Samson delivered …
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MLB Rumors
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
No surprise in Surprise: Pitching is Texas Rangers' top priority — Improvements in pitching staff tops list of ‘musts’ entering camp — egrant@dallasnews.com — When the Rangers start unloading bags Thursday in Surprise, Ariz., signaling the start of the 37th spring training since moving to Arlington …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers talking with Mench — Club discussing Minor League deal with former outfielder — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are talking with outfielder Kevin Mench about a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, but want to make sure he is willing to go to Triple-A Oklahoma if he doesn't makes the team.
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Baseball Time in Arlington
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
The tasks at hand — With the 2007 National League pennant tacked on their wall, the Rockies open spring training Friday with higher expectations than at any point in franchise history. “We are no longer the hunter; we are the hunted,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
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Purple Row
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Morales ready for place in rotation — Franklin Morales is the Rockies' great exception. — At 22, logic screams that he should spend part of this season in Triple-A, refining his mechanics, majoring in humility. — But real talent knows no timetable.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Roberts: Next man up? — All-Star 2nd baseman remains trade chip; Cubs deal still possible — The Orioles answered their biggest question of the offseason Friday by trading ace pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for five players, proving emphatically that they are committed to the rebuilding process.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Easy on arm, tough on team — New closer Troy Percival, shown here with Rays Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, right, plans to conserve energy during Spring Training and be an active force in the Rays clubhouse. — ST. PETERSBURG - New closer Troy Percival …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Schilling receives shot of cortisone — Curt Schilling was given a cortisone shot in his right shoulder yesterday, the first step of a conservative treatment plan laid out by the Red Sox medical staff, which believes surgery probably would end Schilling's season, and quite likely - given his age (41) - his career.
Katrina Waugh / The Roanoke Times:
Blass once and always a Pirate a — Some honeymoon. — The day after Karen Blass pledged to honor her new husband through sickness and health in the fall of 1963, he packed her off to the Dominican Republic. Dictator Rafael Trujillo had been assassinated and the country was in a state of armed chaos.
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Baseball's Devil May Not Be in the Details — WHEN the House Oversight Committee convened recently to discuss baseball and steroids — another hearing is scheduled for Wednesday — Representative Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican, injected a specific proposal.
JSOnline:
Great expectations — Brewers await Weeks' breakout — Because of his immense potential and the fact he finally got past a wrist injury to make an impact offensively over the final two months of last season, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks is considered a prime candidate to “break out” in 2008.
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