Top News:
Randy Galloway / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Cocaine, blackmail converge on Texas Rangers — Not that anyone would admit it publicly, but Rangers management could see this one coming. For months, it watched a PR disaster building like a thunderstorm to the west. — Let's just say the ballclub had been warned.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Can't Stop The Bleeding, HardballTalk, Texas Rangers, It's About The Money and The Big Lead
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Rangers' Washington failed 2009 test for cocaine … Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine during the 2009 season, SI.com has learned. — Washington, 57, has been subject to increased drug testing since his failed test, which was administered by Major League Baseball last July …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers, Can't Stop The Bleeding, ESPN, New York Times, Fanhouse MLB Blog, sox1fan.com, Babes Love Baseball, Lookout Landing, Walkoff Walk, lenNY's Yankees, USA Today, Yahoo! Sports, LA Times Sports Blog, Chicago Breaking Sports, Kranepool Society, HardballTalk, Deadspin, The Big Lead and 6-4-2
New York Post:
Mejia has goods to rescue Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE — Talk to Jenrry Mejia and you learn that he's not scared of anything or anyone. You quickly realize something more important. The Mets young pitcher looks at baseball as a job. Combine that with electric stuff and you have everything you need to get to the majors, at any age.
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New York Post:
Don't be fooled by majestic March — He is tempting. Oh boy, is Jenrry Mejia tempting. It is not just that he is talented. But he is talented and he can be pigeon-holed to fill an obvious Mets' need in the eighth inning. — Not only that, he is homegrown and electric …
Denver Post:
Source: Rockies interested in reliever Beimel — TUCSON — The domino effect of injuries has led the Rockies to express interest in free- agent reliever Joe Beimel, according to a major-league source. — With Huston Street pegged to start the season on the disabled list …
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MLB.com:
Mariners pitcher Lee disciplined — Pitcher Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners has received a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder during the third inning of Seattle's Spring Training game on Monday …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER:
Debating the Dukes decision — Elijah Dukes' Nats career ends with a .256 average, 21 homers and 102 RBI in 188 games. — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Jim Bowden sat behind a conference table in his suite at the Opryland Hotel on Dec. 3, 2007, having just traded for Elijah Dukes at the winter meetings …
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Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER:
Elijah Dukes released
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Federal Baseball, FJB, William World News, The Nationals Enquirer and NationalsFanboyLooser
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Release Elijah Dukes
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment, Bronx Baseball Daily, Rays Index, River Avenue Blues, FanGraphs Baseball and Federal Baseball
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Martinez, an Understudy, Is Playing Like a Star — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Mets put an entire story line on the team bus on Wednesday, sending all three contenders for the starting center-field job on the three-hour trip here to face the Boston Red Sox. — Call it a road show …
RELATED:
Howard Megdal / Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:
The Case For Signing Elijah Dukes
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Chamberlain Tightens Battle for Fifth Spot in Yankees' Rotation — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain could probably have pitched his way out of the rotation with a poor outing Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, Chamberlain breezed through four innings …
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Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — See also: Transactions Glossary. … Arizona Diamondbacks — Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Cesar Valdez, SS Pedro Ciriaco — Optioned to Double-A: RHP Daniel Stange, LHP Leyson Septimo — Atlanta Braves — Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Stephen Marek …
Discussion:
Nationals Farm Authority
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland's failed pursuit of Tim Lincecum in 2005 didn't please MLB officials: Indians Insider … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have faced two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum twice since coming to Arizona for spring training in 2009. Each time it's happened, bloggers and chat room participants …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Early reviews positive for Cubs' designated ‘goofball’ — Kevin Millar has hit .333 with a 545 on-base percentage, and has melded well with his new teammates — MESA, Ariz. — In a radio interview near the end of the 1996 season, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf claimed his ballclub was too …
Seth Livingstone / USA Today:
The shortstops: Nomar, Jeter, A-Rod were long on talent — Not so long ago virtually any discussion of the best shortstops in baseball included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra. — The late 1990s were arguably the golden era of American League shortstops …
