Top News:
Craig Calcaterra / Circling The Bases:
Shaughnessy compares steroids to Hitler. I think. — Thank God we finally have Dan “the voice of reason” Shaughnessy's take on the McGwire business. Take it away, Dan: … See, Shaugnessy is dead-on with this. There were clear, rational incentives to take steroids.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
McGwire talks confession, steroid effects ... and pinch-hitting … The first thing Mark McGwire said was that he felt a whole lot better Tuesday morning. The call was a surprise ... I don't know Mark McGwire. I don't believe I had ever talked to him in anything other than a group setting.
Discussion:
Joe Posnanski
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Juicy details just give us 'roid rage — It makes you want to throw up your hands and say, “They're all dirty!” — The fallout from Mark McGwire's carefully scripted Monday confession (Ari Fleischer!) serves only to raise more questions and bolster the theory that everybody's dirty.
ESPNChicago com / MLB:
Jose Canseco: Mark McGwire, Tony La Russa lying about PEDs … The brothers are bashing each other. — Mark McGwire admitted Monday to using steroids during his career, but Jose Canseco contends his former “Bash Brother” from their days together in Oakland is not being entirely forthcoming about the matter.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, ESPN, NESN.com, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, NBCSports.com and Yahoo! Sports
Sports Illustrated:Joe Posnanski: Time to forgive Mark McGwire
Discussion:
Fack Youk, New York Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Circling The Bases, Only Baseball Matters and Yankeeist
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Precedent-Setting Deal With Florida Marlins Over Revenue-Sharing Has Broad Implications — For years now, there have been questions surrounding whether MLB's collectively bargained revenue-sharing policy has had a loophole in it as wide as centerfield at Minute Maid Park.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, River Avenue Blues, Fox Sports, MLB Rumors, Fish Bytes, Yahoo! Sports and The iYankees Blog
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Statement from MLBPA, Florida Marlins and MLB regarding Marlins' compliance with revenure sharing provisions of the Basic Agreement — The following joint statement was issued today by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball and the Florida Marlins:
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Chapman deal months in the making — Reds' approach focused on scouting, selling situation — CINCINNATI — Before their bold and surprising signing of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, the Reds didn't even garner a mention during the majority of the bidding process — at least not until the very end.
RELATED:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Minicamp: Pirates moving toward three relievers — Dotel, Carrasco, another on horizon; Church will get $1.5 million — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' contract with free-agent outfielder Ryan Church — one year, $1.5 million — is expected to be completed this morning …
RELATED:
New York Post:
Yank Signings and Damon Update — The Yankees have signed lefty reliever Royce Ring, and outfielders Reid Gorecki and David Winfree to minor-league contracts, the Post has learned. Meanwhile, their chances to re-sign Johnny Damon remained remote. — The Yankees are telling agents …
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals have interest in Kennedy — Club's first option for second base remains Hudson — If the Nationals are not able to acquire Orlando Hudson, look for them to set their sights on Adam Kennedy to play second base, according to a baseball source. — Kennedy is a person Washington …
ESPN:
Lane Kiffin to leave Tennessee Volunteers for USC Trojans job … Tennessee's Lane Kiffin has been named the next head coach at Southern California, athletic director Mike Garrett announced on Tuesday. — Kiffin replaces Pete Carroll, who jumped to the NFL as coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers logical destination for Valverde — Losing draft pick for closer could be small price to pay — DETROIT — The Tigers currently stand as the most interested and most logical destination for free-agent closer Jose Valverde, if they can find common ground on a contract.
