Top News:
CBSSports.com Sports News, Fantasy Scores …:
Yanks, Pirates talk about AJ; Raul, Eric wait — The Yankees and Pirates are continuing to talk about a possible A.J. Burnett trade that could lead to more activity in the form of a couple free-agent signings by the Yankees. As of Thursday night, the teams were thought to be a few million apart …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The Knobler Blog, FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, It's About The Money, Bombers Beat and Bucs Dugout
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Howard Megdal / Capital New York:
The whistleblower returns: Noreen Harrington, once the star witness in a Spitzer crusade, testifies that the Mets owners knew about Madoff — Harrington gets a distinguished-alumnus award. adelphi.edu — For just over a year now, the evidence facing Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and Kranepool Society
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Cardinals Sign Dominican Righthander Andres Serrano For $750,000 — The Cardinals have signed Dominican righthander Andres Serrano for $750,000, a deal that was agreed to in October and is still pending Major League Baseball's investigation into Serrano's age and identity.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs 6-Game Packs feature Opening Day tix — CHICAGO — Want to be at Wrigley Field for Opening Day? What about guaranteeing a seat for the Cubs' series against the Cardinals or White Sox? — You can take advantage of the Cubs 6-Game Pack, featuring tickets to Opening Day, April 5 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright wows with his best stuff — Image — JUPITER, Fla. • It was only 30 pitches in February before a collection of 20 players and staff on Field 2 behind Roger Dean Stadium. But it was also Adam Wainwright throwing effortlessly and with command — momentous stuff just two weeks …
Dejan Kovacevic / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Take the Pirates' money, please — It's one of the many torments of the Pirates' longest-suffering fans, the perpetual thought that somehow, some way, this will be the winter they make that big free-agent splash. — The thought was born, really, when PNC Park opened in 2001 with the promise of spending with the big boys.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Gordon gets an early gift from Royals — Receives $4.775 million pact on eve of 28th birthday — KANSAS CITY — Now Alex Gordon has something extra to celebrate Friday on his 28th birthday, a $4.775 million contract with the Royals for 2012. — “It was a great birthday present,” he said.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Dan O'Dowd motivated by changing Rockies' culture in offseason makeover — The words come quickly. Without focus, it's hard to keep up with Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd. The same could be said for his offseason. After a disappointing 73-89 record that left the Rockies closer …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
TV deals for Angels, Rangers open door for other teams — The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox may still reside in Major League Baseball's most exclusive revenue neighborhood, however a gaggle of newly-minted neighbors are poised at the security gates, ready to turn a privileged hamlet into a sprawling subdivision.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Bill James / Grantland:
Focus on Sport/Getty Images — An Open Letter to the Hall of Fame About Dwight Evans — The godfather of baseball statistics makes his case for why the Red Sox legend belongs in Cooperstown — I hope you understand that I would never sacrifice my reputation by arguing that a player belongs …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Fox Sports:
Figgins could return to form at leadoff — When Eric Wedge said the idea of removing Ichiro from the leadoff spot has “as much to do with his teammates as it has to do with him,” the Seattle Mariners manager might as well have screamed Chone Figgins' name. — Wedge has yet to commit …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing