Top News:
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.”
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays win arbitration hearing with Upton — Panel sides with club, outfielder to make $3 million in 2010 — ST. PETERSBURG — An arbitration panel has sided with the Rays in their hearing with B.J. Upton, which means Tampa Bay's center fielder will make $3 million in 2010 rather than the $3.3 million he sought.
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 …
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Associated Press:
Monahan to miss spring training — NEW YORK — New York Yankees trainer Gene Monahan will miss his first spring training in 48 years because of what the team called “a significant illness.” — The team said Sunday that the longest-tenured active head trainer in the major leagues could also miss the start of the regular season.
Discussion:
The Yankee Scrolls
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Yankees prospect Jesus Montero's a big hit with bat, but 20-year-old working hard on his defense — TAMPA - Under a slate-gray sky, the Yankees' best prospect steps in front of home plate, prepared to block it. About 10 yards away, a coach with a thin fungo bat swats a ball at him …
James / True Grich:
Talking baseball with Marlins Scout Roger Jongewaard — Today was my lucky day. My wife Cheryl and I headed over to one of our favorite restaurants in Long Beach this morning; Jongewaard's Bake n' Broil (a place I mentioned in an earlier post) and while we were waiting to be seated …
Discussion:
Angels blog
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees re-sign some minor league depth — Via Baseball America's latest minor league transactions, the Yankees have re-signed RHP Paul Bush, 3B Marcos Vechionacci and OF Edwar Gonzalez to minor league deals. It does not seem any of the three will be brought to big league camp.
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Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Hey, Hoynsie! Paul Hoynes answers your Cleveland Indians questions … Hey, Hoynsie: Holy mackerel, did GM Mark Shapiro and the Cleveland Indians braintrust really offer Orlando Hudson — benched by the Dodgers last year for Ronnie Belliard — over $5 million? Say it ain't so Hoynsie!
Steve S. / TYU:
Dave Eiland-'Hughes Rules' not like Joba's — In an interview yesterday with WFAN's Ed Coleman and Yankee beat reporter Sweeney Murti, Yankee pitching Coach Dave Eiland cleared up some of the confusion surrounding the restrictions that will be placed on Phil Hughes this season.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Money player — Why the critics of J.D. Drew may be off-base — When it comes to on-base percentage - which Theo Epstein and the Sox value greatly - you have to hand it to J.D. Drew. (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff) — The locker sits at the end of the row, closest to the door that leads to the field …
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 …
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Open To Another Spring Signing — MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports that St. Louis has between $6MM and $7MM worth of “wiggle room” in their payroll that may have to last the club through the rest of the season. But, as Leach notes, “the Cardinals aren't holding onto money …
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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 …
