Top News:
Robneyer / SBNation.com:
Rob Neyer Joins SB Nation, Becomes Part Of ‘Us’ Not ‘Them’ — Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins wipes his face while speaking to the media before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals last April in Philadelphia. Rollins is heading to the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain.
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:
MLB Daily Dish, The700Level.com, Mack Ade, New Jersey Online, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports and Chicago Breaking Sports
RELATED:
Nick Collias / MLB Rumors:
Garcia: Not Returning To Chicago
Garcia: Not Returning To Chicago
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, The Sommer Frieze, HardballTalk, Examiner and River Avenue Blues
NY Daily News:
Martin Luther King III says he may join investors seeking to buy 50% of Mets but isn't leading group — Larry Meli, a television executive, downplays the involvement of Martin Luther King III (above) in the investors group, telling the Daily News: 'In his mind, he's not even the lead guy.'
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
New York Mets GM doesn't see Bernie Madoff mess affecting club
New York Mets GM doesn't see Bernie Madoff mess affecting club
Discussion:
Mike Silva's … and Mets Fever
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 Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rays Sign Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez — The Rays have officially signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, the team announced. Damon's deal is worth $5.25MM plus a potential $750K in bonus money based on attendance and Ramirez's deal is worth $2MM. Both players are represented by Scott Boras.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Boston Globe and Let's Go Tribe!
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers To Sign Mark Kotsay — The Brewers will sign Mark Kotsay to a Major League contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Assistant GM Gord Ash confirmed to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that the sides are talking. The 35-year-old Legacy Sports client will provide …
Discussion:
Brew Beat
Associated Press:
Alfredo Simon denied bail — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon was denied bail Tuesday and will remain in jail on an involuntary manslaughter charge. — Simon — The 29-year-old pitcher is expected to stay in jail for a year while officials investigate …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and MASNsports.com
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies ace Halladay picks up another award, focuses on healthy season — EVEN IF THE Phillies training staff had to reinforce his groin with duct tape, Roy Halladay was going to pitch in the World Series. This city learned enough about the 2010 NL Cy Young winner during his first season …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
William Weinbaum / MLB:
Royals hire Willie Aikens — Three years after leaving federal prison and 26 years after his playing days in the major leagues ended, Willie Mays Aikens is back in baseball as an employee of the team with which he achieved his greatest glory in the sport. — The Kansas City Royals hired …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Tyler Maas / Bugs & Cranks:
Want to See a 100-Year-Old Death Threat Mailed to a Pitcher? — During his 11-season career, Red Sox pitcher Smoky Joe Wood-who was somehow left off our list of awesome baseball porn names-managed a 117-57 record, a 2.03 ERA, 121 complete games and 28 shutouts.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Deadspin, SBNation.com and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Patrick Newman / FanGraphs Baseball:
New NPB Imports for 2011 — Last November, I asked you who should play in Japan this upcoming season. With NPB camps opening and offseason acquisitions basically complete. let's take a look at who went over. Here's the breakdown, using the categories I outlined in my original post:
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Justice B. Hill / MLB.com:
Day's fastball dominated ‘black baseball’ — Seven-time Negro League All-Star ranks No. 5 among pitchers … World War II had ended, and Leon Day was ready to trade his Army khakis for a flannel uniform of the Newark Eagles. On Opening Day of the 1946 season, he duplicated a feat Bob Feller …
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.
RELATED:
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Thanks Rob — While I generally prefer to write about baseball rather …
Thanks Rob — While I generally prefer to write about baseball rather …
Discussion:
Over the Monster