Top News:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: Mets and Perez talking only 2008 — According to a text message from SNY's Kevin Burkhardt, Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters that he is no longer trying to negotiate a long-term contract extension with Oliver Perez. — Instead, the Mets and Perez's agent, Scott Boras …
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Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
A BIG LEAD — REYES REPORTS 3 DAYS EARLY — Jose Reyes kept shrugging off his September From Hell at the time, even as he was taking the Mets' playoff hopes down with him. — Just part of baseball, the Mets' All-Star shortstop would say calmly, enraging Mets fans with his nonchalance as the month dragged on.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:Make no mistake, Randolph needs a playoff berth
Discussion:
Ya Gotta Believe
NY Daily News:
Kid arms have daunting task of satisfying a Steinbrenner — TAMPA - You can tell it is eating at Hank Steinbrenner already that he didn't turn a deaf ear to GM Brian Cashman and make the trade for Johan Santana that his gut was telling him to make. — Just mention Santana to Hank and you can practically hear the gnashing of teeth.
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Mark Feinsand / New York Daily News Blogs:Mussina takes Hughes, Kennedy under his wing
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:If Andy Pettitte falters, Yankees could regret passing on Johan Sanatana
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Sarah Talalay / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins ballpark agreement reached — The Marlins, Miami-Dade County, the city of Miami and Major League Baseball reached agreement late Friday to finance a $515 million ballpark at the site of the Orange Bowl, according to a source. — The agreement was not released …
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball, Palm Beach Post, MLB Rumors, MLB Fleece Factor, ShysterBall, The Griddle and Al's Ramblings
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Lo Duca responds to Mitchell Report — Nationals catcher apologizes for ‘mistakes in judgment’ — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca reported to camp on Saturday and broke his silence about being named in the Mitchell Report, apologizing for “mistakes in judgment.”
Will Harris / ESPN:
St. Louis Cardinals fantasy team preview … Only six National League teams finished 2007 with a worse record than the Cardinals' 78-84 mark, and this season there could be even fewer. St. Louis had serious issues in the rotation and bullpen last season, neither of which have been addressed.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Notes: Porcello gets first taste — Leyland hoping Inge situation is resolved to everyone's benefit — LAKELAND, Fla. — Rick Porcello's first Major League drill didn't cut him any slack. As he stood on the practice fields Friday morning readying for pitchers' fielding practice …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Ceda bids for Cubs' bullpen spot — Prized prospect to audition for the lone available job — MESA, Ariz. - It seems unlikely that beefy right-hander Jose Ceda can make the jump from Class A Peoria to the majors in one year, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella wouldn't rule it out.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
New arrivals — It was the first on-field day of the spring (no, I do not count conditioning yesterday), and it was a gorgeous one. Not a cloud in the sky for most of the morning. — Terry Francona got to indulge in his usually gleeful drill, the one where he hits (slightly softer) …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Top pick Moskos switching to starter — Pirates take field for first workouts under Russell — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' first day of spring training brought some surprising news about their most recent first-round draft pick: — Danny Moskos, the left-handed reliever taken …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
The only Pavano post all spring (promise) — Carl Pavano is in camp. He has to be because he's on the 40-man roster. The Yankees asked him to accept a payoff on the final year of his deal then take a minor-league contract and he refused. — Pavano had surgery last June and almost certainly won't be ready to pitch until 2009.
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:
Julian: Spring shock — Schilling injury alters Tavarez' 2008 plans … FORT MYERS - Julian Tavarez [stats] was caught off-guard when he heard the Red Sox [team stats] picked up his $3.8 million team option for the 2008 season in November. — “I didn't think they were going to do it,” the right-hander said.
Nate Silver / Unfiltered:
PECOTA Projected Standings are up, and PFM — We've kept this a little under the radar, but the first version of the PECOTA projected standings are fired up and ready to go. — For the most part, these numbers conform pretty well to conventional wisdom. In the American League …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Capitol Punishment, Friar Forecast, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Lone Star Ball
