Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa wanted to pursue Bonds — JUPITER, Fla. — The possibility of free agent home run king Barry Bonds hitting behind Albert Pujols in the Cardinals' batting order remained intriguing enough this winter for manager Tony La Russa to take the idea to general manager John Mozeliak …
Discussion:
C70 At The Bat, Baseball Musings, MLB Rumors, Viva El Birdos, Cardinals Diaspora and philly.com
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays ponder Bonds pursuit … ST. PETERSBURG - There has been no formal offer, actual wooing or even public displays of affection. But the Rays seem to have at least an eye on Barry Bonds, and team officials have recently talked internally about the all-time home run king who has been at the center of the steroids controversy.
Discussion:
The Heater, MLB Rumors, Baseball Musings, Rays Index, Bradford Files, Rays of Light, DRaysBay and Beyond the Box Score
Dawn Klemish / MLB.com:
Notes: No lack of effort from Ensberg — Veteran infielder dedicated despite abundance of competitors — TAMPA, Fla. — Morgan Ensberg has had a lot of adjusting to do over the past year. New team. New expectations. New position. So far, he's taking it all in stride.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi sees rise of LaTroy Hawkins — TAMPA - While most eyes at Legends Field have been focused on the Yankees' trio of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, manager Joe Girardi has found plenty of other pitchers to get excited about. — LaTroy Hawkins, the veteran righthander signed …
ESPN:
Source: BoSox, Colon agree to minor league deal — The Boston Red Sox have reached preliminary agreement on a minor league contract with right-hander Bartolo Colon, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. — If he makes the Opening Day roster, Colon would provide rotation insurance for Boston …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MetsBlog.com, My Pinstripes, FanHouse, South Side Sox, ShysterBall, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, Red Sox Monster, The House That Dewey Built, SOX & Dawgs, Hot Stove New York, MLB Rumors, Babes Love Baseball, Empyreal Environs, The Chuck Knoblog, MLB Rumors, Lone Star Ball, Over the Monster, River Ave. Blues and iYankees
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Treading lightly here — Team doesn't confirm a deal on fragile Colon
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
PLEADING THE 5TH — PELFREY, DUQUE BID FOR METS' LAST ROTATION SLOT — “El Duque” or “The Kid?” Who will occupy the fifth spot - veteran Orlando Hernandez or young right- hander Mike Pelfrey - ap pears to be the only question about the Mets' rotation as they open Grapefruit League play this week.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
MELANCON THE NEXT JOBA? — Attention shifted from the main diamond at Legends Field in mid-afternoon yesterday. Alex Rodriguez had begun signing autographs down the right-field line and the roughly 200 fans who had stuck out an entire workout on a hot, sunny afternoon either raced to the area or focused upon it.
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Boston Globe:
Manager's sign — Francona, Sox agree on 3-year, $12m extension — FORT MYERS, Fla. - With two World Series titles behind him and a clubhouse full of players always ready to sing his praises, manager Terry Francona has reached an agreement on a three-year, $12 million contract extension …
Discussion:
Brownie Points, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Red Sox Monster, The Biz of Baseball and The Bottom Line
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Agent for David Wells calls Cards — The agent for lefty David Wells dialed the Cardinals recently to see whether the team was interested in adding the veteran to an unsettled rotation. — Wells, 44, has been working out and would like to pitch another season after going 4-1 with a 4.65 ERA …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill James / Slate:
The Epic of Craig Biggio — WHY I LOVED, AND THEN GREW TIRED OF, THE LONG-TIME HOUSTON ASTRO. … I wonder how many people even remember anymore that Craig Biggio came to the majors as a catcher? Biggio wasn't much of a catcher, honestly, but he was a major league regular catcher for three and a half years.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Duaner Sanchez springs into action — PORT ST. LUCIE - Duaner Sanchez has not pitched in a game in 577 days, since striking out Andruw Jones to complete a scoreless eighth inning in Atlanta on July 28, 2006. — This time, the crowd will be significantly less than the 53,943 spectators who packed Turner Field that day.
Faran Fagen / MLB.com:
Notes: Olsen to open Grapefruit play — Keppel, regulars to start vs. Miami; Mitre leading by example — JUPITER, Fla. — Newcomer Bobby Keppel will start for the Marlins in Tuesday's 3:05 p.m. ET game against the University of Miami in Jupiter, and Scott Olsen, last year's No. 2 starter …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Hawpe's ambition not to be left out — Bulked-up slugger poses a bigger threat if he can hit left-handers as he does righties — TUCSON — At 2:11 p.m. Sunday, right fielder Brad Hawpe walked into the Hi Corbett Field parking lot after practice. He was easy for autograph seekers to recognize.
