Top News:
Jeff Pearlman / Wall Street Journal:
The One Met Their Fans Most Loved to Hate — This spring in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Mets loyalists are engaged in a tug of war over which player—the recently released Luis Castillo or the likely soon-to-be-released Oliver Perez—is the most loathed in team history.
Discussion:
SNY Why Guys, Amazin' Avenue, Mike Silva's …, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Patrick Flood and The 'Ropolitans
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets release Oliver Perez — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Three days after the New York Mets informed second baseman Luis Castillo he was being released, left-hander Oliver Perez received the same fate Monday morning. — Team officials informed Perez he was being let go despite being owed $12 million in the final year of his deal.
Discussion:
USA Today, Amazin' Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB and Kranepool Society
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
The Mets cut Oliver Perez
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, New York Times and baseballmusings.com
David Waldstein / Bats:
Mets Release Oliver Perez
Discussion:
New York Times, Amazin' Avenue and SBNation.com
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Castillo, Phillies agree to Minor League deal
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com, Bleacher Report and The Zo Zone
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa and Riggleman feud, dugouts clear — JUPITER, Fla. — Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa were at the epicenter of a dugout-clearing brouhaha Monday at Roger Dean Stadium. — Cardinals reliever Miguel Batista hit Ian Desmond …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Yahoo! Sports and Cincinnati Reds
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Gaudin could be ticketed for Nats' bullpen — JUPITER, Fla. — On Sunday afternoon, Nationals right-hander Chad Gaudin pitched five solid innings in a Minor League Spring Training game, but the way manager Jim Riggleman was talking Monday, Gaudin is slated for the bullpen — if he is on the 25-man roster.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Braves Still Hoping To Deal Kawakami — The Braves are still hoping that Kenshin Kawakami draws interest from another team that's willing to take on a considerable portion of the $6.67MM he'll earn in 2011, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Kawakami lost his rotation spot last June after losing his first nine decisions.
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Kawakami tries to shake off trade talk — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Kenshin Kawakami is still attempting to ignore the fact the Braves are looking to trade him. Instead, the Japanese right-hander has remained focused on preparing for the upcoming season without having any idea where he might be pitching.
Colin Dunlap / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates release Atkins; Olsen could start year on DL — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates this morning granted an unconditional release to infielder Garrett Atkins, signed by the club as a minor league free agent in the offseason. — Atkins hit .129 (4 for 31) this spring with 11 strikeouts in 17 games.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jenifer Langosch / By Gosh, It's Langosch:
Atkins released; Thomas, Nieve reassigned
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Where Have You Gone …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers on lookout for pitching help — PHOENIX — The Brewers are still leaning toward filling their fifth-starter void from within, but club officials are also keeping an eye on the waiver wire and trade market — and on right-hander Shaun Marcum's stiff shoulder — in case outside assistance becomes necessary.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Jason Isringhausen pitches way into competition with Bobby Parnell for Mets' 8th-inning setup role — PORT ST. LUCIE - Jason Isringhausen knows that one pitch can alter a career, or ruin a comeback attempt, so the three-time Tommy John survivor went straight to the doctor about a week ago after feeling a pop in his elbow.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NorthJersey.com, Tedquarters, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Mets Merized Online
Justin Bopp / Beyond the Box Score:
The Jeter/Giambi Play | Oct 13, 2001 | “The Flip” — ESPN tells the tale well: … You've no doubt read or perhaps heard some of the thousands of words uttered about this improbable play, but now you can see just how absurd the entire sequence was. As a saber site, we can roll our eyes …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
McDonald leaves game with jammed thumb — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald left Monday's game against the Phillies with a jammed right thumb. — McDonald, who started in left field and hit in the No. 7 spot, lined out to second base in his first at-bat in the top …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Johnny Cueto has shoulder inflammation; will be shut down for 7-10 days — Johnny Cueto left his start Saturday after just one inning because he was suffering from biceps stiffness. The Reds flew Cueto to Cincinnati yesterday for an arm exam this morning with team doctors.
Discussion:
SBNation.com
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Casey Blake likely heading to DL — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake is expected to begin the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a bad back. — “Yeah, we are definitely moving in that direction,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
