Top News:
Joel Sherman / NY Post:
Yankees sign Randy Winn; Damon done — The Yankees have reached a one-year contract with Randy Winn, The Post has learned. — The deal is believed to be in the $2 million range that the Yankees had allocated for the fourth outfielder job and shuts the door on — any late pursuit of Johnny Damon.
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MLB:
Sources: New York Yankees ink Randy Winn, Johnny Damon left out … The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Randy Winn on a one-year contract, pending a physical, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Damon — Winn — The contract is worth in the neighborhood of $2 million.
Joel Sherman / NY Post: Hardball:
3UP: Cone, Mets Rotation and Damon — 1. I hear that since David Cone left the YES Network that ESPN has made a run at trying to recruit him without success. Sources tell me Cone also has been approached by the Players Association to join on in at least an advisory role and that Cone is leaning toward accepting such an offer.
Discussion:
Fack Youk, BronxBanterBlog.com, Amazin' Avenue, Bottom9 Baseball, The iYankees Blog and MetsBlog.com
Fox Sports:
Yankees, Damon would've been a solid fit — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — Talk about a dumb divorce. — The Yankees need Johnny Damon. Damon needs the Yankees. But so much for happily ever after.
Benjamin Kabak / River Avenue Blues:Yanks reach one-year deal with Randy Winn
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Yankeeist, Pending Pinstripes, New Jersey Online, Fack Youk, BronxBanterBlog.com and TYU
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Breaking down the Top 50 Prospects — Pitchers, premium position players make grade in 2010 — MLB.com's Top 50 Prospect list is now public for all to see. Let the opinions fly. Should the game's top prospect be Braves outfielder Jason Heyward or Nationals fireballer Stephen Strasburg?
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks' Montero slugging, turning heads — Bat earns 20-fyear-old catcher coveted spot on prospect list — NEW YORK — Each loud drive off Jesus Montero's bat moves him a little closer to Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees can't help but wonder what the future will hold for the slugging catcher.
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Tatis talk closing door on Delgado — PORT ST. LUCIE — Who's on first? — The answer to that question for the Mets is Daniel Murphy, but another name might soon be added to the mix. — According to an industry source, general manager Omar Minaya is deep into negotiations with Fernando Tatis …
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Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Jim Bowden interviews Mike Rizzo — So former Nats GM Jim Bowden—co-hosting a SIRIUS XM MLB Home Plate show with Seth Everett—interviewed current Nats GM Mike Rizzo Wednesday morning. That's like Vinny Cerrato interviewing Bruce Allen on the radio. That's like Glen Hanlon interviewing Bruce Boudreau on the radio.
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Adam Rubin / Surfing The Mets:
Smoltz could borrow Pedro's script — John Smoltz could choose not pitching over pitching for the Mets ... at least for now. But Smoltz isn't retiring yet. — An insider tells the Daily News he believes the 42-year-old Smoltz could follow the route Pedro Martinez went last season — wait and sign mid-season.
Keith Law / MLB:
2010 organizational rankings — Keith Law ranks the farm systems of all 30 teams, from the Rangers at No. 1 to the White Sox at No. 30.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Inbox: Were Mets wise to stay frugal? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers fans' questions — Do you give credence to the thinking that because the 2009-10 free-agent class was below average the Mets chose not to spend a lot of money on average-at-best pitchers and/or position players …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Halladay trade nets two Top 50 prospects — Acquired in offseason, Wallace, Drabek on MLB.com's list — TORONTO — In one dramatic move this offseason, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos changed the perception of his farm system. Dealing ace Roy Halladay to the Phillies …
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Craig Calcaterra / Circling The Bases:
The Dodgers deny that McCourt wants to sell; call me irresponsible — UPDATE: So this morning, I wrote the bit way down below, passing on a rumor I heard that Frank McCourt would like to sell the Dodgers once all of the McCourt v. McCourt litigation blows over. I trust my source on this, but the Dodgers took issue.
David Waldstein / New York Times:
The Mets Play Hard to Get, This Time With Smoltz — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — John Smoltz, who turns 43 in May and would like to extend his Hall of Fame career, has received 2010 contract offers from several teams, his agent, Lonnie Cooper, said Wednesday. The Mets, however, are not among those clubs …
Matt Hagen / Hardball Times:
Top 10 prospects for 2010: Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks — Houston Astros — 1. Jordan Lyles / SP / Lyles dominated in 2009 by pumping the strike zone with his low-90s fastball. He has strong movement and command in that fastball, while his curveball and change-up are promising but works in progress.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers add Inglett off waivers — Milwaukee designates reliever Smith for assignment — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers added another left-handed bat to the roster Wednesday by claiming the versatile Joe Inglett off waivers from the Rangers. — Inglett, 31, has appeared in the Majors …
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles, reliever Hendrickson agree to terms — Left-hander returns for one-year, $1.2 million deal — The Orioles shored up their bullpen and likely put the final touch on their 40-man roster before they head to spring training by agreeing to terms Wednesday with reliever Mark Hendrickson.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
