Top News:
Associated Press:
Crisp might ask for trade if he doesn't win CF job — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Coco Crisp, who lost his center-field job to rookie Jacoby Ellsbury in the postseason, said Wednesday he'd probably talk to the Boston Red Sox about trading him if it appears he won't get his starting job back.
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Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
No doubt, Ellsbury's in CF — Competition with Crisp nothing but a formality … FORT MYERS - Despite what the Red Sox [team stats] are ladling out to the media about there being some kind of competition for the starting job in center field, the reality is something entirely different.
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Crisp ready to compete for starting job — Center fielder reports to Red Sox camp in great shape — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Leaving no doubt about his intention this Spring Training, a bigger, stronger Coco Crisp reported to Red Sox camp on Wednesday morning prepared to fight for the starting center field job.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Coco: ‘I want to play’ — Coco Crisp arrived at spring training …
Discussion:
MLB Fleece Factor
George A. King III / New York Post:
GET USED TO JASE AT FIRST BASE — Jason Giambi was well into a punishing offseason conditioning program when Joe Girardi phoned with a plea Giambi was happy to hear. — “He told me, ‘I need you at first base,’ ” Giambi said yesterday at Legends Field on the eve of the first full squad spring training workout.
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Sports Illustrated:
Damon nearly walked away in '07 — When Johnny Damon walked out of spring training early last year, he thought he was walking away from the game, SI.com has learned. The Yankees explained Damon's absence early last spring as “personal reasons,” and there was a lot of wrong speculation …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
ESPN.com:
A-Rod expects drug questions — TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez expects to be questioned repeatedly about drug use as he approaches Barry Bonds' career home-run record. — “Right now, the game is in a very not-trusting situation with our public, with our fans,” A-Rod said Wednesday …
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Sports Illustrated:
Mets, free-agent P Garcia meet — Free-agent pitcher eyes return from shoulder surgery — Free-agent pitcher Freddy Garcia visited with the Mets on Wednesday, according to sources. — The Mets haven't said anything about possible progress in contract talks, but they have long been interested in Garcia …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Teixeira's status is a big deal — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Will he be a Brave beyond this season? That's all anyone wants to know about slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira. But it looks as if he's going to keep us guessing. — Tex rolled into training camp Tuesday and said he's …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Hank and Tex in the house
Discussion:
MLB Fleece Factor
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates reach agreement with pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates this morning reached agreement on a contract with free-agent pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. — It is believed to be a major-league deal, though no other terms are known. The San Francisco Giants …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Reyes vows to tone down act this season — Jose Reyes, second from right, told Newsday he may tone down celebrations like this one and focus more on baseball this year. (Newsday / Kathy Kmonicek) — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - In addition to the Mets' championship dreams, a part of Jose Reyes died on that final weekend at Shea Stadium.
Johnette Howard / Newsday:
Passing on Santana could mash Cash — Yankees GM Brian Cashman, right, with Jorge Posada, could be in big trouble with ownership if his decision not to trade for Johan Santana backfires. (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan / February 15, 2008) — Brian Cashman should have traded for Johan Santana …
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Piniella's Rx for '08: Regular rest — MESA, Ariz. — On the first day of full-squad workouts for the Cubs, the arrival of the last player to report for spring training, Aramis Ramirez, underscored one of the more important — if little-noticed — sets of decisions facing manager Lou Piniella and his coaching staff this spring.
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
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Jim Salisbury / philly.com:
A window on how arbitration works — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Some salary arbitration hearings are contentious. Some are civil. — Some are downright absurd. Such as the one involving a pinch-hitter several years ago. An agent recalled the story yesterday. — “He was one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball,” the agent said.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, delawareonline, The Good Phight, Beerleaguer, The Zo Zone, Phillies Nation and Baseball Musings
JSOnline:
Notes: Touching on a sore subject — Sheets looks to stay healthy, quiet critics — Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers starter Ben Sheets insisted Tuesday that this year was no more important to him than the past few injury-plagued seasons. — “They're all important,” Sheets said.
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Chicagosports / Hardball:
Sox close to bringing Colon back? — TUCSON, Ariz. - The Sox could be on the verge of reacquiring Bartolo Colon.According to Dominican site Impactodeportivo.com.do, Colon is close to finalizing a contract with the White Sox. The media outlet states that the pitcher needs only to pass a physical examination.
