Top News:
New York Times:
Madoff Had Wide Role in Mets' Finances — When Fred Wilpon's son Jeff was married at Fresh Meadow Country Club on Long Island, Bernard L. Madoff and his wife were there. When Mr. Madoff's son Mark was married at the same country club, Mr. Wilpon, the principal owner of the Mets, was a guest as well.
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Wall Street Journal:
Madoff-Hit Mets Seek Cash — Pummeled by the Ponzi Scheme, Baseball Team Hopes to Sell Piece by June — The New York Mets hope to complete the sale of up to a 25% stake by the end of June, according to a person involved with the planned transaction, as the baseball team seeks funds …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Mets Merized Online and MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Source: New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, CEO Jeff Wilpon …
Discussion:
NY Daily News and TYU
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays close to deal with Felipe Lopez — ST. PETERSBURG — As the Rays decide whom to take off their 40-man roster to make room for Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, they are set to add veteran middle infielder Felipe Lopez on a minor-league deal, possibly today.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Projo Sox Blog, Rays Index and NESN.com
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays Sign Felipe Lopez — The Rays signed infielder Felipe Lopez to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training, the team announced. ESPNDeportes' Enrique Rojas reports (in Spanish) that Lopez will earn $1MM if he makes the Major League roster and can earn another $1MM in incentives.
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Joe Maddon on The Big Show: Why Manny Ramirez will fit with the Rays …
Discussion:
joy of sox
John Shea / SFGate:
Sweet Lou joining the champs — John Shea on a valuable pickup by the Giants . . . The baseball world loves Lou Piniella. Players, coaches, fans, scribes. As a manager of five teams, including the 1990 Reds, who swept the A's in the World Series, Piniella has had a passion for the game at every level.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, My Pinstripes, Seattle Times, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog and USA Today
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
Redskins owner Dan Snyder seeks dismissal of City Paper writer — There's no question Redskins owner Dan Snyder had a few problems with a cover story about him in Washington's City Paper in November. — At the moment, in fact, Snyder is fighting mad. — Snyder has objected to the article …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, HardballTalk, Fanhouse NFL Blog, Deadspin and SBNation.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers counting on Schlereth against lefties — DETROIT — The Tigers have been consistent in their stance that Phil Coke will be in their rotation. They've also been consistent in their stance that they don't need to make a big signing to replace him as the primary left-hander in their bullpen.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and TigerBlog
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Indians in talks with righty Bonderman
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Acquire Justin Maxwell — The Yankees announced that they have acquired Justin Maxwell from the Nationals for minor league right-hander Adam Olbrychowski. When Washington had to clear roster space last week, they designated Maxwell for assignment.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Bronx Baseball Daily, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
Sports Illustrated:
In period of parity, not even a high payroll guarantees a playoff berth … The conventional wisdom is that the Phillies and Red Sox have turned themselves into prohibitive favorites with their great winters. But based on recent history, the conventional wisdom is worth even less more than an obstructed-view bleacher seat.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Video: Piazza & Leiter, playing catch, talking catching — Mike Piazza joined Al Leiter for a demonstration on how to properly play catcher in all situations, last night on MLB Hot Stove on the MLB Network: — This video was awesome. I got chills simply watching these guys play catch …
Tim Kurkjian / MLB:
Pitchers' extended workloads can be a major concern — In past 10 years, most teams that advanced to Series had ERA increase the next season — With spring training less than two weeks away, there is every reason to believe that the Texas Rangers will win their division again …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and ESPN
AdamMcCalvy / Brew Beat:
Kotsay deal close — The Brewers were working Tuesday to finalize a contract for veteran outfielder Mark Kotsay, who would bring another left-handed bat to a righty-heavy Milwaukee roster. — The pending deal was reported by FoxSports.com, which said Kotsay would get a one-year, Major League contract.
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