Top News:
Jorge Arangure Jr / ESPN:
1B Morales hires Boras in about-face — Los Angeles Angels first baseman Kendry Morales has fired agents Alan and Randy Hendricks and signed with Scott Boras, the agent confirmed to ESPN The Magazine. — “Essentially, we had gotten a call from Kendry about a month ago and said he was interested …
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Felipe Lopez fires agent — Free-agent infielder Felipe Lopez has fired his agent, Scott Boras, and signed on with the Beverly Hill Sports Council, a source told ESPN.com Friday. — The 29-year-old Lopez was reportedly disgruntled over still finding himself without a team, just days before the beginning of spring training.
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yanks target Cuban SS as Jeter's heir — Do the Yankees have their sights on Derek Jeter's eventual replacement, who also could be a future center fielder who nudges Curtis Granderson to left? — According to the multiple members of the international scouting community …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk, Pending Pinstripes, NoMaas.org and Bottom9 Baseball
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays win arbitration case vs. Upton — UPDATE, 6:21: Upton was disappointed, but ready to move on. “I thought we put on a good case, but they ruled the way they did. Congratulations to the Rays. Now it's time to put all this behind me, hit spring training and get ready to play baseball.”
RELATED:
Globe and Mail:
BJ Upton loses to Rays in arbitration — Club defeats outfielder, leaving the Rays 5-0 in cases that have gone to hearings — Tampa Bay has defeated outfielder B.J. Upton during salary arbitration, leaving the Rays 5-0 in cases that have gone to hearings.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
New York Yankee Brett Gardner plans to add bunting to his hitting arsenal — TAMPA - Brett Gardner hits during the winter at the Charleston Baseball Academy, about 10 minutes from his South Carolina home, tweaking his swing and keeping sharp. This offseason, Gardner spent a lot of time working …
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees trainer Gene Monahan ill — A very familiar face and important cog in the Yankees' universe won't greet the players in Tampa this week when spring training camp opens. The Post has learned that legendary athletic trainer Gene Monahan will miss his first spring training in 48 years due …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Jeter's Next Contract Is About More Than Money — It is, all at once, the biggest issue and the biggest nonissue that will hover over the Yankees this season: Derek Jeter is in the final year of his contract. — That fact by itself is important. But the Yankees have said for months …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Melissa Isaacson / ESPN:
Reinsdorf: Put Thomas in HOF … Saying it would be “a disgrace” if Frank Thomas was not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called his former slugger one of the best right-handed hitters in the game. — “I never saw Joe Jackson, he was a little before my time …
RELATED:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins ready for FanFest on Saturday — Single-game tickets go on sale when doors open at noon — MIAMI — FanFest opens the door for the general public to meet Marlins players, get autographs and purchase tickets for the 2010 season. — The tradition continues Saturday …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Globe and Mail:
Richmond hurts shoulder preparing for spring training — Jays pitcher is suffering from right shoulder impingement and will need rehab — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Scott Richmond of North Vancouver, B.C., has hurt his shoulder preparing for spring training, the team announced Saturday.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Blessed with talent, West divisions are best — Angels, Dodgers poised to face serious challenges in 2010 — For eight days and nights, October tumbling into November, the East owned the grand stage, with the New York Yankees dethroning the Philadelphia Phillies in a rousing World Series.
