Top News:
New York Post:
WARMING UP TO BASEBALL — HARDBALL'S GUIDE TO SPRING TRAINING '08 — THIS was an offseason about what you didn't see coming. Those best of enemies, Brian Cashman and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, came together in harmony at separate functions on each other's home turf while the seemingly impenetrable bonds …
Discussion:
Bronx Liaison
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George A. King III / New York Post:
YOUNG YANKS WILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE PLAYOFFS — How will the transition from Joe Torre to Joe Girardi go? — They have the same first name, but after that Torre and Girardi are very different. Torre let the players police themselves; Girardi is a stickler for detail and will run a tighter ship.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Biggest concern for Yankees is young pitchers — The Yankees managed to avoid the wholesale roster changes that could have hit them hard after the 2007 season, given their prominent list of free agents as the offseason began. Even so, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Finding a first baseman — Several readers e-mailed over the winter suggesting the Yankees make a trade for Nick Johnson. — I had my doubts. While he's a good player when healthy, staying healthy has always been an issue for Johnson. He hasn't played since the end of the 2006 season because of a badly broken leg.
Discussion:
iYankees
New York Times:
Committee Chairman Criticizes Clemens's Lawyer Over Remarks — The chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform criticized one of Roger Clemens's lawyers Sunday for remarks he had made about a federal agent's plan to attend a committee hearing Wednesday.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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NY Daily News:
Roger Clemens' lawyer receives letter of reprimand from Henry Waxman — Rusty Hardin, the lawyer representing Roger Clemens in the pitcher's red-hot denials of performance-enhancing drug use, said Sunday with dismay in his voice that he has always suspected his client could end up embroiled in a federal prosecution.
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.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Lofton could reunite with Baker in Cincy — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — Kenny Lofton played for Dusty Baker with the Giants in 2002 and the Cubs in '03 …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
LA close to deal with pinch-hit specialist Sweeney … The Los Angeles Dodgers, fulfilling manager Joe Torre's desire for a veteran hitter off the bench, are nearing agreement on a one-year major league contract with free agent Mark Sweeney. — “It's not a done deal, but we're moving in the right direction …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Youk/Sox agree to terms — Continuing their tradition of not going to arbitration with players in the Theo Epstein era, the Red Sox have agreed to terms with first baseman Kevin Youkilis. He'll make $3 million dollars this season on a one-year deal. — Youkilis had come in far from the number offered by the team.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
A's ink Sweeney to Minor League deal — Veteran spent first 17 seasons in Royals organization — SURPRISE, Ariz. — It's official. Mike Sweeney's days with the Kansas City Royals are over. On Sunday, he agreed to a Minor League contract with the Oakland A's.
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Baseball falters in Puerto Rico — Interest in the sport is steadily declining in the birthplace of Clemente and many others who became major league stars. — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Enter Eduardo Figueroa's Mexican restaurant in Old San Juan and the first thing you notice …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Money not an issue with Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia, length of contract is — Now that the revised terms of Johan Santana's contract with the New York Mets have come out, the numbers aren't as bad as previously thought in terms of keeping C.C. Sabathia in Cleveland.
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 …
