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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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 …
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 …
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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Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Dodgers look at minor league deal for Eric Gagne — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed Tuesday that his club is considering exploring the possibility of signing former Cy Young Award-winning closer Eric Gagne to a minor league contract. But Colletti tempered that confirmation …
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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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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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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 …
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
What we learned in Fort Myers Monday — Much like in spring trainings past, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and pitcher Josh Beckett were the center of attention Monday. (AP) — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The first player on the field at the Red Sox' minor league training facility Monday was Jon Lester.
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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 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.
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Granderson and Left Field — Ever since Curtis Granderson revealed that the Yankees asked if he'd be willing to move to left field this weekend, various people have weighed in on the merits of such a move. My take? It really doesn't matter much at all. Whether you have Brett Gardner …
Associated Press:
New York Yankees' ‘core four’ won't allow letdown, CC Sabathia says — TAMPA, Fla. — CC Sabathia says there won't be any let-up in the World Series champion New York Yankees this season. — The reason is simple, the Yankees pitching ace says. The club's veteran group of Derek Jeter …
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 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mark McGwire gets set for new role — MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — A few days after the announcement that he would leave his private practice to become the Cardinals hitting coach, Mark McGwire invited longtime pupil Skip Schumaker and new charge Brendan Ryan to his house for pizza and a World Series game.
