Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Nomar: It's a dream fulfilled to retire as a member of the Red Sox — Nomar Garciaparra, who for the better part of seven years was the face of the franchise before his shocking trade in 2004, has come home to the Red Sox. — At his request, the Red Sox today signed the 36-year-old …
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Alex Speier / WEEI:
NOMAR TO RETIRE AS MEMBER OF RED SOX — WEEI.com's Lou Merloni reports that Nomar Garciaparra will sign a one-day, minor league deal with the Red Sox and then announce his retirement as a member of the organization. Garciaparra will then commence a career as a baseball analyst for ESPN.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Full Count, FanGraphs Baseball, FenwayNation, Over the Monster, hotstove.com, YFSF and The Joy of Sox
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Nomar calls it a career in Red Sox style — Six-time All-Star, two-time batting champ retires with Boston — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nomar Garciaparra, a two-time batting champion and six-time All-Star, revealed last summer that he had a recurring dream of one day playing for the Red Sox again.
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Longtime Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra announces retirement — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Longtime Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra announced his retirement from baseball on Wednesday morning, signing a one-day contract with the Red Sox in order to retire as a member of the team.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Beckett, Sox reportedly working on deal — SI.com says a pact could be reached in the next few weeks — FORT MYERS, Fla. — When the Red Sox signed John Lackey to a five-year deal in December, general manager Theo Epstein made a point of saying that the club was still plenty interested …
Discussion:
Fenway West
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Beckett, Red Sox discussing extension — Contract talks between the Red Sox and star right-hander Josh Beckett are said to be progressing, with growing optimism about a new deal emerging. — Beckett and the Red Sox have an excellent relationship, and people familiar with the talks …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Globe and Mail:
Granderson golden for Yankees — Former Detroit centre fielder makes game saving play, belts two hits in 9-8 win for New York — Johnny Damon didn't get to play Wednesday, but Curtis Granderson made the play of the day in the first meeting between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers since …
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Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Off to Lakeland — After finishing up with the daily A-Rod update …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Panel Part III: Efforts to develop black talent in USA insufficient — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fans look down from their seats onto the baseball field, see dark-colored skin and might assume they are African-American players. — But increasingly, the players instead hail from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico or Venezuela.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Damon misses Yanks matchup with turf toe — Injury not believed to be serious for former Bomber — LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon missed his first matchup with his old team Wednesday due to turf toe in his left big toe, but the injury is not believed to be serious.
MLB:
New York Mets say Jose Reyes has thyroid issue; he says no — The New York Mets say Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid, but the shortstop isn't buying it. — The team said on Tuesday that Reyes is expected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests are used …
Discussion:
CitiField of Dreams, New York Mets Fan Blog, Jorge Says No!, New Jersey Online, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and MLB.com
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David Waldstein / New York Times:
Reyes Gets Encouraging News From Specialists
Discussion:
Mack's Mets, The Real Dirty Mets Blog, Surfing The Mets, Mets Merized Online and MetsBlog.com
Bryan Smith / FanGraphs Baseball:
Fan Projections: Strasburg — Given the media circus around the event, you surely already know the specs behind Stephen Strasburg's Spring Training debut with the Washington Nationals yesterday: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 27 pitches. If you spend any time on Twitter …
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Bill Conlin / Philly.com:
Phillies have best infield of baseball's modern era — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Joe Tinker was the shortstop. Johnny Evers played second. The first baseman was Frank Chance. Poor Harry Steinfeldt. — He was the third baseman who faded into obscurity because he didn't make the short poem titled …
Sports Illustrated:
Brewers may be young, but they're ditching the youthful exuberance … MARYVALE, Ariz. — The Milwaukee Brewers are a young team, but they are growing up fast. They recognize that they are new school and not old school, but that they must go to school to avoid the mistakes of a year ago …
Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci: Selig, committee making good on promise to better the game … When baseball commissioner Bud Selig named a 14-person “special committee for on-field matters” four months ago, he promised that all topics would be in play and “there are no sacred cows.”
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles worry that Roberts might not be ready for Opening Day — Second baseman has herniated disk, then was sickened by medication — SARASOTA, Fla. - - For the first time this spring, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail acknowledged that the club is concerned …
