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(2 of 2) — “It's fun to see him out there. He looked good. He looked healthy, and that's the big thing.” — Sheets started the 2008 All-Star Game for the National League, which marked the first time for a Brewer to do so. He also got the nod on Opening Day that season, earning the win against the Chicago Cubs.
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: Mets prefer Joel Pineiro to Ben Sheets — Free-agent RHP Ben Sheets pitched for interested teams yesterday in Louisiana. — According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Mets and Phillies were in attendance. — To see video of his audition, as well as a one-on-one interview with Sheets …
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Johnny Damon running out of options — Slowly but surely, one closed-out roster at a time, Johnny Damon's horizons keep shrinking. On Tuesday, he found himself squeezed out from the Giants, who signed Bengie Molina and have officially exhausted their off-season treasury.
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MLB.com:
Bauman: Yankees appear stronger — Impressive offseason makes Bombers team to beat in AL — One item that must be monitored each winter is essentially: How did the big guys do? — That is big as in “the big winners,” and/or “the big spenders.” Now that the New York Yankees …
KPIX-TV:
Molina Signing Deal To Stay With SF Giants — SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― In a surprising twist, Bengie Molina has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants, CBS 5 has learned. — Molina's family on Tuesday confirmed the deal that keeps …
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Papelbon not heading to a hearing — Jonathan Papelbon has a one-year deal in place with the Red Sox that would be in the neighborhood of $9 million. (Update: The deal is for $9.35 million, with Papelbon getting a $50,000 bonus for 60 games finishes — he finished 59 in 2009.)
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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Breaking Sports:
Fisk rips McGwire, calls steroids claim ‘a crock’ — Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk blasted Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and other alleged or admitted steroid abusers Tuesday, calling McGwire's claim that steroids did not help him hit more home runs “a crock.”
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Joe Posnanski:
Iron Fisk — “But this is the point I want to make: When you talk about steroids and you talk about what it means to the game, the three greatest home run hitters of all time—Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, right? When they were 39 years old, how many home runs do you think they averaged?
Discussion:
Fenway West
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Closer Eric Gagne has tryout with Phillies — The Phillies' search for bullpen depth may take an interesting turn. — Former All-Star closer Eric Gagne told a French Canadian radio station that he has a tryout with the Phillies this afternoon in Arizona.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies add Lo Duca on a minor league deal — DENVER — Amid the wave of contract signings, the Rockies are still looking for depth at the major and minor-league levels. — As I speculated around 4 p.m. this afternoon, they Rockies have now signed sign catcher Paul Lo Duca to a minor league deal.
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Landon Evanson / Winona Daily News:
Gardenhire believes gap between Twins and Yankees is closing — For years, it has been almost universally accepted that baseball's small-market teams can't compete with the high-paying Yankees and Red Sox. — The past eight years, though, indicate that no one bothered to explain that scenario to the Minnesota Twins.
Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci TomVerducciInside Baseball Bang for the buck: The five most efficient clubs of the past decade … The Yankees left little doubt that they were the team of the last decade, but what team was the most efficient from 2000 through 2009? Did the Yankees get the most bang …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Reed, Register sign Minors deals — Jays add organizational depth heading into Spring Training — TORONTO — The Blue Jays added more organizational depth on Tuesday, signing outfielder Jeremy Reed and right-hander Steve Register to Minor League contracts that include invitations to attend Spring Training with the big league club.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Tracy Ringolsby / Inside the Colorado Rockies:
Street, Betancourt sign multiyear deals — The Rockies agreed to multiyear contracts with relief pitchers Huston Street and Rafael Betancourt, FOXsports.com has learned, giving the Rockies 11 players signed to contracts that tie them to the Rockies through at least 2011.
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