Top News:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Carlos Beltran had Knee Surgery — In a post to Twitter, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus said: … ...oh, man, and pitchers and catchers is just five weeks away... what's up, will... Updated at 9:35 pm: — Joel Sherman of the New York Post says he heard Carlos Beltran …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, New York Times, TedQuarters.net, The Crawfish Boxes, New York Magazine, Mets Merized Online, The Real Dirty Mets Blog, ...gettingpaidtowatch, The Musings and Prophecies …, Circling The Bases, Mets Fever, FakeTeams, The Daily Stache, New York Mets Fan Blog, The 'Ropolitans, Yahoo! Sports, OnTheBlack.com and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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New York Post:Another Amazin' miscommunication on injury front
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Patrick Flood's Mets Blog, My Summer Family, The Daily Stache and TedQuarters.net
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
LaRoche, D-backs agree to one-year deal — Lefty-hitting slugger becomes club's everyday first baseman — The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms Thursday on a one-year deal with Adam LaRoche, a baseball source told MLB.com. — The signing — still pending a physical …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
LaRoche agrees with Diamondbacks — The Diamondbacks and Adam LaRoche have an agreement on a one-year deal that will be finalized as soon as he takes a physical, SI.com has confirmed. The deal will pay LaRoche between $4 million and $5 million, sources say. News of the deal was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Carrasco agrees to $950,000 deal — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates and right-handed reliever D.J. Carrasco have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. — If Carrasco makes the team, he will make $950,000 in base pay plus as much as $250,000 in performance bonuses based on appearances.
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Atlanta Braves, Melky Cabrera avoid arbitration — Atlanta Braves outfielder Melky Cabrera avoided salary arbitration and accepted a one-year offer worth $3.1 million from the club. — Cabrera, 25, was acquired last month by the Braves from the Yankees in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez to New York.
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
MLB pitching in for devastated Haiti — Baseball supports relief efforts with $1 million donation — Major League Baseball, its clubs, its players and its fans are participating in rapid relief efforts for the devastated nation of Haiti, which remains in a state of chaos amid widespread fatalities …
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MLB.com:
New York Yankees to donate $500,000 to rescue and relief efforts in Haiti — The New York Yankees announced today that they were donating $500,000 in support of rescue and relief efforts following the tragic earthquake in Haiti. — The catastrophic event has devastated an entire nation …
Discussion:
Unfiltered, Yahoo! Sports, It's About The Money, Circling The Bases and River Avenue Blues
Sports Illustrated:
McGwire had to talk about steroids, but his story doesn't add up … The truth with Mark McGwire — and we finally did get some truth from McGwire on Monday — is that he had no choice but to come clean. (Or at least partially clean, in his case.) — From the time the Cardinals decided …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:Negotiations continue over Rangers' sale
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson agrees to 4-year, $39M deal — Pitcher Josh Johnson reached an agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep him with the Florida Marlins through 2013. The pitcher confirmed the agreement to ESPN.com Thursday. — Johnson
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Sheets healthy, ready to prove it — Free agent didn't pitch in 2009 but is ready to go in 2010 — he just needs a team — Ben Sheets believes he can be a No. 1 starter again after missing all of '09 with elbow trouble. — Ben Sheets answered his cell phone, but there was no time to talk.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Postcards from Elysian Fields, MetsBlog.com, Halos Heaven, Circling The Bases and MLB
Chicago Tribune:
New Chicago Cubs hitting coach expects to exceed high expectations — Rudy Jaramillo believes in his ability to make players better — The Cubs may be the only team in history to bring their new hitting coach to town for an introductory news conference while letting their most prominent free agent signee …
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Details on one-year arb contracts for Barmes, Buchholz — DENVER — The Rockies avoided arbitration today with two players they will be counting on heavily next season, second baseman Clint Barmes and reliever Taylor Buchholz. — Barmes more than doubled his salary, coming in at roughly $3.4 million.
Jose Canseco / Yahoo! Sports:
Valverde signs with Tigers for two years — patience paid off Thursday when he reached an agreement on a two-year, $14 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, a source close to the negotiations told Yahoo! Sports. — Valverde turned down arbitration from the Houston Astros and appeared …
John Shea / SFGate:
Valdez designated for assignment — Merkin Valdez was designated for assignment, clearing room on the 40-man roster for Aubrey Huff, who signed as a free agent for one year and $3 million. — Valdez was 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA in 48 games last season. He struck out 38 batters and issued 28 walks in 49 1/3 innings.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies close in on one-year, $5.6-million deal with De La Rosa — DENVER — Jorge De La Rosa will be rewarded for his mercurial rise from maddening starter to rotation stalwart. He's on the verge of avoiding arbitration today with a one-year, $5.6-million deal, nearly tripling last season's salary.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
