Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Cashman: No new pacts for big three — When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees' GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush. — And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, Cashman has no plans to stray from his plan of not negotiating with them.
Discussion:
Rivalry Central, ESPN, Circling The Bases, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, The iYankees Blog, Jorge Says No! and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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Bobbie Dittmeier / MLB.com:
Cashman: Jeter, Mo, Joe will have to wait — Yankees GM says no contract talks until after the season — Despite their iconic status, the Yankees have no plans to discuss new contracts with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera until after the season — and the same goes for the manager …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets' Pelfrey drops weight, not expectations — One week until Fat Tuesday, but Mike Pelfrey won't be participating. — The Mets pitcher is prepared to arrive in camp next week some 25 pounds lighter than last season and believes that will propel him to new heights after a disappointing 2009.
RELATED:
New York Post:
Omar can salvage offseason with series of moves — With the Mets, it is difficult to determine whether they are trying to spin the news or are just delusional. — Consider the state of the roster: For most of this offseason, they acknowledged a desire to upgrade at catcher, second base …
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Jacque Jones, Minnesota Twins agree to minor league deal — The Minnesota Twins have reached agreement with outfielder Jacque Jones on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. — Jones, 34, broke into professional ball with Minnesota in 1996 as a second-round draft pick out of USC.
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Twins Sign Jacque Jones — The Twins signed Jacque Jones to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Jones, 35 in April, sat out last season after hitting poorly in 2008. He hit one homer and posted a .147/.239/.207 line for the Tigers and Marlins that year.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets' Citi Field to become more homer-friendly next season; center-field wall gets chopped to 8 feet — Broadcaster Gary Cohen may be able to proclaim, “It's outta here!” a little more often in 2010. And David Wright may not be as inclined to frustratingly fling his Great Gazoo helmet …
Morgan Campbell / Toronto Star:
Fitness might help Romero ace test — With lactic acid searing his legs, a heart rate-monitor recording his progress, and no end in sight to the interval workout, Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero gripped the handles of the exercise bike and kept pumping the pedals.
RELATED:
ESPN:
The five best rotations in baseball — From the mailbag: … A: Matt: Hmmmmm ... I'll give it a shot. And keep in mind we're talking about pitchers No. 1 through No. 5, not just the top one or two, in which case my vote probably would go to the Mariners (with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee) …
Fox Sports:
Looking back on race, Red Sox — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — During the 2008 postseason, I wrote a column pointing out the Red Sox's roster was largely white.
RELATED:
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Webb back where he belongs — on a mound — Ace throws from bump for first time since August — PHOENIX — D-backs ace Brandon Webb threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since having surgery on his right shoulder in August. — “[It] went good,” Webb told MLB.com.
MLB.com:
MLB, Granderson join anti-obesity effort — Yanks outfielder appears with first lady in support of campaign — As much as his million-dollar smile and his impressive combination of speed and power, new Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson is known for his active involvement in the community.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Associated Press:
Keith Hernandez works with New York Mets' Daniel Murphy at 1B — NEW YORK — Keith Hernandez has a new task for the New York Mets, moving down from the broadcast booth to give Daniel Murphy lessons at first base. — Murphy started last season in left field and had never played …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks sign Thames, make Winn official — Left fielders expected to compete with Gardner for time — NEW YORK — The Yankees announced Monday that they have signed right-handed-hitting outfielder Marcus Thames to a Minor League contract, inviting him and 19 other non-roster players …
