Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: New York Yankees agree to minor league deal with pitcher Freddy Garcia — The New York Yankees have reached an agreement on a minor league contract with pitcher Freddy Garcia, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — Garcia will receive a $1.5 million base salary if he makes the big league club.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, New Jersey Online, Bleacher Report and Chicago Breaking Sports
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Reach Agreement With Freddy Garcia — The Yankees have agreed to sign Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract, reports ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). The deal will pay Garcia $1.5MM if he makes the Major League roster, and the total value of the contract could be worth $5.1MM …
Discussion:
Beat Of The Bronx, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …, HardballTalk, Yankeeist and TYU
Nick Collias / MLB Rumors:
Garcia: Not Returning To Chicago — Freddy Garcia continues to indicate that he'd prefer to spend 2011 playing outside of Chicago, despite recent reports that the White Sox are still considering him. Last Wednesday, he stated his goal to pitch for the Yankees this season, while not explictly ruling out out Chicago or any other team.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Examiner, The Sommer Frieze, HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Bo knows Amazing — As you know, I've been writing about the Wing of Amazing (italicized because it's just that awesome), with three nominations so far: Omar Vizquel, Jamie Moyer, and Jim Abbott. Additionally, a blogger nominated Billy Wagner (I'm sympathetic, but not convinced).
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Rob Neyer says goodbye to ESPN — Rob Neyer has announced that after 15 years — which is about 300 in Internet years — he's leaving ESPN. Rob is going to keep writing, of course — we don't know where, but a little bird tells me that we'll hear more about that part tomorrow morning — but this is still pretty major news.
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Yankeeist, ESPN and Al's Ramblings
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
New York Mets GM doesn't see Bernie Madoff mess affecting club — New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson acknowledged Monday that he did not know the extent of the financial distress of Mets ownership when he accepted the job in October. Still, Alderson insisted …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's … and Mets Fever
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Matthew Callan / Amazin' Avenue:
The Wilpons: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been Broke?
The Wilpons: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been Broke?
Discussion:
New York Times and NorthJersey.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Isringhausen throws for Reds in Arizona — GM Jocketty unsure if club will pursue veteran reliever — CINCINNATI — Reliever Jason Isringhausen had a throwing session for the Reds on Monday, but it remains to be seen if the club will sign the right-hander. — Isringhausen threw for Reds pitching coach Bryan Price in Arizona.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Mark My Word
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Isringhausen to throw for Reds on Monday
Isringhausen to throw for Reds on Monday
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama and Redleg Nation
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
“Humble” Ramirez arrives, “feels great” about playing for Rays — Manny Ramirez was dressed casually and looked relaxed when he arrived at Tampa airport Sunday night. — He was pleasant enough as photographer Kathleen Flynn and I approached him as he stepped off the tram after flying in from Phoenix …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, SOX & Dawgs, FenwayNationWorld and Rays Index
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
New Tampa Bay Rays DH Manny Ramirez arrives
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Jason Bay eyeing far better times in '11 — After signing a big-money contract last winter, Mets' LF experienced a rough season — Jason Bay has a busy agenda in front of him as he awaits the start of the New York Mets' spring training camp. In a perfect world, he will show the team …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Full Count and ESPN
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
R.A. Dickey, New York Mets finalize $7.8 million, two-year deal; Mets agree with Angel Pagan — Right-hander R.A. Dickey passed a physical Monday, the final hurdle to the knuckleballer completing a two-year deal with the New York Mets that includes a 2013 option.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Mike Silva's …
Alison Leigh Cowan / New York Times:
For Mets Owners, a Costly Precursor — For the owners of the Mets, their involvement with Bernard L. Madoff's giant investment fraud has been embarrassing and costly. They are being sued for hundreds of millions of dollars, and have been accused of having been, at minimum, willfully ignorant of what Madoff was up to.
Discussion:
CBS New York, Mets Merized Online, MetsBlog.com, ESPN, HardballTalk, Kranepool Society, baseballmusings.com and It's About The Money
Craig Schneider / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
MLK III considers buying part of Mets team — Martin Luther King III invoked the spirit of his late father as he confirmed his involvement in discussions to purchase a part of the New York Mets. — In a late-night statement released to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday …
Discussion:
Bats, MLB Rumors, ESPN and New York Post
RELATED:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Report: Group including Martin Luther King Jr.'s son interested …
Report: Group including Martin Luther King Jr.'s son interested …
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, New York Post and ESPN
Simone Wilson / The Informer:
SF Giants Fans to Fly ‘BEAT LA’ Banner Over Dodger Stadium on Opening Day — Tell us, Los Angeles: Are you going to stand for this? — A group of diehard stadium-rushers up in NorCal are currently well on their way to raising $8,000 for a giant banner to fly over Dodger Stadium on March 31, April 2 and April 3.
Discussion:
The Snitch
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets hire Viola as Class A pitching coach — NEW YORK — The Mets brought another former player back to the organization Monday, hiring Frank Viola to be the pitching coach at Class A Brooklyn. — Viola, 50, will coach professionally for the first time since retiring from baseball in 1996.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk