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.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Reyes is quick to move on — PORT ST. LUCIE - Jose Reyes has more steals (202) than anyone in baseball over the past three seasons. Still, the shortstop has a bold prediction for 2008. — “Probably I'm going to be a little faster this year,” Reyes said upon arriving at Mets camp Friday …
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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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.”
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 …
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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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 …
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MLB Rumors, Capitol Punishment, Friar Forecast, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Lone Star Ball
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.
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David Lennon / Newsday:
El Duque expects to be in rotation — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Orlando Hernandez, as usual, was a man of few words when he arrived Friday at Tradition Field. El Duque said more than enough, however, to get his message across. — With Hernandez's health always a question mark and the Mets sitting …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Make no mistake, Randolph needs a playoff berth — The cliche “It is what it is” gained national prominence this week, thanks to Brian McNamee's testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Willie Randolph hopped aboard that very crowded bandwagon Friday, and really …
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