Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Yanks expect Pettitte to start spring behind in prep … Andy Pettitte no longer has to go to Washington, and instead, he is scheduled to report to the Yankees' training camp in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday. But staff members expect that Pettitte will be behind in his preparation for the 2008 season …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com, River Ave. Blues, iYankees, Scott Proctor's Arm, MY BASEBALL BIAS and YanksBlog.com
RELATED:
New York Times:
Damaging Information Said to Await Clemens — WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens will be confronted with a new and damaging affidavit from Andy Pettitte when he appears before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday, two lawyers familiar with the matter said late Tuesday …
Associated Press:
Pettitte told Congress Clemens admitted to using human growth hormone — CBSSports.com wire reports — WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens told Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte nearly 10 years ago that he used human growth hormone, Pettitte said in a sworn affidavit to Congress, the Associated Press learned Tuesday.
Derek Jacques / Baseball Prospectus:Stupid Lawyer Tricks: Clemens and McNamee Go to Congress by Derek Jacques
Discussion:
The Futility Infielder
Evan Grant / Rangers:
Mench for the bench — Kevin Mench is coming back to the Rangers. Mench agreed to a minor league deal with the club on Tuesday afternoon. He'll fight for a backup outfielder's spot along with David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts. — Mench, 30, hit .267 for Milwaukee last year with a .746 OPS and eight homers in 101 games.
RELATED:
Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers lack center piece to make big move — SURPRISE, Ariz. - I dreaded packing up the old homestead, leaving the wonder dog behind, and heading for the desert for a couple of weeks. — Then, I landed in Arizona Tuesday. The sky was clear, the air was crisp, the desert was alive and the In-N-Out Burger was open.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jack Curry / Bats:
Q & A with Joe Girardi — When I interviewed Yankees Manager Joe Girardi in Coral Springs, Fla., last Wednesday, we set 9 a.m. as the meeting time. I figured I would get to the coffee shop early to scout out a quiet place to sit. I arrived at 8:40 a.m., and Girardi was already there.
Discussion:
Eephus Pitch
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Twins fill spot vacated by Santana with Hernandez — MINNEAPOLIS — Pitcher Livan Hernandez and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract. — Hernandez can earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses. — The Twins are short on experience in their rotation …
Discussion:
Out in the Desert
RELATED:
Danny Knobler / Detroit Tigers Insider:
Looking ahead: The options game — DETROIT — Spring training starts this week, which means the guessing game for the 25-man opening day roster starts, too. — You'll need to know who has minor-league options remaining, and sure enough I got an e-mail this morning from Glenn, asking about just that.
RELATED:
Seth Mnookin / The Feeding the Monster Blog:
Do I believe John Rocker? Hell yeah I do. — DIGG DEL.ICIO.US SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEED — In an interview with an Atlanta radio station, John “I'll just keep talking until I get myself in trouble” Rocker says he and a bunch of other Texas Rangers were advised on how to juice without getting caught back in 2000.
RELATED:
Scott Lauber / Phillies:
Feb. 12 — BENSON ON THE WAY? — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Just got off the phone with Kris Benson's agent, who says a deal between the free-agent right-hander and the Phillies may be struck within the next 24 to 36 hours. — Gregg Clifton told me he has been speaking with Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Refreshed Hansen bursting with energy — Young reliever feeling great following sleep apnea surgery — FORT MYERS, Fla. — One thing you always hear from players in the early days of Spring Training is that they feel refreshed. In the case of Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen, that is anything but a cliché.
RELATED:
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Jeter, Wang talk — A number of players worked out today at the Yankees minor league complex, including a handful of big leaguers. Derek Jeter and Chien-Ming Wang each talked to reporters. — Here are a couple of Jeter comments. He only addressed the steroid saga, as he was hurrying off to catch a flight.
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Revitalized Crawford sees hope for Rays … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Adam Dunn leaned over the skybox at the raucous 16th hole during the recent FBR Open and yelled out to PGA golfer and friend Steve Elkington, rousing him into making his putt. Elkington playfully acknowledged Dunn's taunts …
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros have veteran Chacon on radar — Club offers free-agent right-hander deal two days before camp — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have made an offer to right-hander Shawn Chacon, one of a handful of free-agent pitchers still looking for work in the final stages of the 2007-08 offseason.
