Top News:
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
LOWELL BRACES HIMSELF FOR AN UNCERTAIN SPRING — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Mike Lowell isn't blind to what awaits. — He knows that his current lot in life promises to be one of spring training's most talked-about issues. The third baseman also realizes why such interest might run rampant …
Alex Speier / Full Count:Papelbon looks to start a new streak
Discussion:
NY Post, Jorge Says No!, Red Sox Monster, The iYankees Blog, MLB Rumors, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Boston Globe
Rob Bradford / Full Count:What we learned in Fort Myers Monday
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Analysts, Boston Globe, Hardball Times, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Sources: Mets make push for Barajas — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — The Mets are making “a hard push” for free-agent catcher Rod Barajas and negotiating with him on a one-year deal, according to major-league sources.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Sources: White Sox still in Damon hunt — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — Johnny Damon to the White Sox? The idea certainly is not dead. The question is how alive it might be.
RELATED:
Joe Cowley / Inside the White Sox:
The latest on Damon — The Johnny Damon talks haven't just picked up, but now the White Sox front office is feeling like they may have “significantly” closed the gap between themselves and Detroit for the free agent's services. — That was the word from several sources on Wednesday afternoon …
SJK / NoMaas.org:
The Mother of All Interviews: NoMaas v. Brian Cashman — Turn your speakers up. … SJK: Since you were given full authority over baseball decisions after the 2005 season, how do you believe the organization has changed — whether it be fiscally, philosophically, or in methodology?
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Catcher Joe Mauer will test staying power with Twins — MINNEAPOLIS — The sun is a rumor at 5:30 in the morning. The temperature is a bone-chilling 5 degrees, with a wind chill south of zero. Lungs sting just trying to catch a breath. — And a line of humanity, bundled from head to toe …
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Jurrjens relieved after receiving MRI results — Count Jair Jurrjens among the many members of the Braves family who gained a sense of relief on Wednesday morning, when MRI results showed that he isn't dealing with any structural damage in his right shoulder.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
Kansas City Star:
Royals report to Arizona with revamped roster … Anthony Lerew, also out of options, showed some potential in three September starts. Rule 5 pick Edgar Osuna must make the club or be offered back to Atlanta. He's a lefty, which is a plus in an otherwise righty mix, but could also claim a spot in the bullpen.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Chris Morris / News & Advance:
Former Major League pitcher Jim Bibby dies at 65 — Jim Bibby, a longtime Madison Heights resident and former Major League Baseball player, died Tuesday night at Lynchburg General Hospital. He was 65. — Bibby died around 9 p.m., said Jimmy Wright, a close family friend.
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Nats Web site selling Wang jerseys — UPDATE: Nats sign Wang. Mystery ruined. — The latest word from the Chien-Ming Wang: “We haven't finalized anything with anybody,” the pitcher's agent told Chico Harlan a few days ago. Monday morning on Twitter, Bill Ladson reported that …
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
The new Yankee Stadium is built, but where are the promised ballfields for kids? — One of the big questions Yankees manager Joe Girardi must decide before the end of spring training in Tampa Bay is whether Curtis Granderson or Brett Gardner will be the team's new centerfielder on Opening Day.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Inbox: Where should Padres hit Eckstein? — Beat reporter Corey Brock answers fans' questions — Will David Eckstein be slotted in the No. 2 hole in the lineup or would he be better suited at the end of the lineup so that we can have more speed at the top of the lineup?
Associated Press:
Brian Bruney loses arbitration case with Washington Nationals — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brian Bruney received a disappointing birthday present, losing to the Washington Nationals in salary arbitration. — The reliever was awarded $1.5 million Wednesday instead of his request for $1.85 million.
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.
RELATED:
