Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang agrees to deal with Nationals — Right-hander will be coming back from shoulder surgery — The Nationals have agreed to terms with right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a baseball source has confirmed to MLB.com. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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Yahoo! Sports, Rivalry Central, Boston Globe, Fanhouse MLB Blog, MLB Daily Dish and NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK
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Nationals Journal:
Nats reach deal with Wang — Throughout the first portion of the offseason, the Washington Nationals remodeled their team by signing a half-dozen free agents, each serving a particular purpose and place. But the Nationals, on Tuesday, opted for a far different strategy in making what is likely …
Discussion:
D.C. Sports Bog, Bronx Baseball Daily, HardballTalk, The iYankees Blog and Bottom9 Baseball
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Nationals To Sign Chien-Ming Wang — The Nationals have agreed to sign Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year $2MM deal that includes up to $3MM in performance bonuses. The team hasn't confirmed the agreement, but they have a press conference scheduled for Friday. We heard last week that the Nationals were the favorites to sign the righty.
ESPN.com:
Source: Chien-Ming Wang, Washington Nationals agree on deal — The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with former New York Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. — Wang — MLB.com and MASNsports.com …
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Associated Press
Sports Illustrated:
10 for '10: Young aces among those at risk of Verducci Effect … Nothing is more inspirational this time of year than the pop of a well accelerated fastball into the cavern of a catcher's mitt — so welcome after a long, cold winter that the fastball's usual antagonist, the hitter, is unnecessary to its drama.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Jurrjens to have MRI on right shoulder — Braves hurler experienced soreness after throwing at camp — ATLANTA — Right-hander Jair Jurrjens will see Braves doctors later this week to learn why he has recently felt some discomfort in his right shoulder. — Braves general manager Frank …
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ESPN.com:
Jair Jurrjens of Atlanta Braves to have MRI exam on sore right shoulder — Atlanta Braves starter Jair Jurrjens has a sore right shoulder and will undergo an MRI exam this week. — Braves GM Frank Wren said the exam is “just precautionary,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Reports: Dodgers look at minor league deal for Eric Gagne — The Dodgers are exploring the possibility of signing former Cy Young Award-winning closer Eric Gagne to a minor league contract for the upcoming season, according to various media reports. — Gagne, 34, last pitched in the majors …
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Gagne looking for a return to Dodger Blue — Scouts have watched club's all-time greatest closer throw — LOS ANGELES — Eric Gagne wants to be a Dodger again. — General manager Ned Colletti said that his scouts have seen Gagne throw but that the club has not made an offer or decided whether it would.
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Phillies Top 11 Prospects — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Two-Star Prospects — Four More: — 12. Jarred Cosart, RHP: This long-armed projectable righty has the raw ability to rocket up this list should his secondary pitches develop.
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Phuture Phillies
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians extend offer to Branyan — Left-handed hitter would provide depth at corner positions — CLEVELAND — Looking for depth at the corner infield and outfield spots, the Indians have an offer on the table to free agent Russell Branyan, though it was unclear on Tuesday if it's …
ESPN:
Texas Rangers sign outfielder Endy Chavez to minor league contract — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers signed free-agent outfielder Endy Chavez to a minor league contract Monday with an invitation to spring training. — Chavez, 32, played 54 games with Seattle last season before suffering …
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24 Hours From Suicide
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Victor Martinez deal not up for discussion — FORT MYERS - Apprised of comments in yesterday's Herald that Victor Martinez would prefer to sign with the Red Sox [team stats] before reaching free agency, Theo Epstein stuck to club policy about not discussing contract talks.
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NESN.com
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Brian Costa / New Jersey Online:
Countdown to spring training: Omir Santos, Josh Thole will compete for NY Mets starting catching job … COUNTDOWN TO SPRING TRAINING — Today: A look at the Mets' catching situation — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — When the Mets signed Henry Blanco in early December, they figured …
Alex Remington / Yahoo! Sports:
What can the Mariners expect from Ken Griffey Jr. in 2010? — We all have questions about the 2010 season and Alex Remington luckily has some answers. The Stew's resident stats guru will address a few per week as Opening Day approaches. — The Situation: Ken Griffey Jr.
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
An insight into the no-extensions policy (UPDATES with more from Cashman) — UPDATE, 12:29 p.m.: In a nice bit of timing, I just spoke to Brian Cashman on the phone and he touched a little more on the Damon process. He says the notion that the Yankees didn't “engage” with Damon is just plain false …
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Papelbon looks to start a new streak — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Prior to the 2009 playoffs, Jonathan Papelbon wore his 0.00 career postseason ERA like a tattoo on his forehead. The Red Sox closer talked freely about how he held the number dear, how much pride he took in his run of 26 consecutive innings without permitting an earned run.
