Top News:
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Albert Pujols and Yu Darvish bump into each other twice in L.A. before spring training — TEMPE, Ariz. - New to the job, new to the division, new to the left coast, Albert Pujols has a lot to catch up on. — The sun sets pink and orange over the sea. — Designated freeway lanes are little more than suggestions.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Manny Ramirez says he'll join A's — Manny Ramirez told ESPN's Pedro Gomez on Monday that he has agreed to a deal with the Oakland Athletics. — Ramirez — Sources tell Gomez the deal is worth about $500,000. Ramirez is obligated to serve a 50-game suspension without pay before beginning play …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Plain Dealer, Deadspin, Athletics Nation, MLB Rumors and NESN.com
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Boston to get good prospect for Theo — FORT MYERS, Fla. — A resolution of the Theo Epstein compensation issue was imminent Tuesday morning, a major league source said, with the Red Sox receiving what was termed a quality minor leaguer back from the Chicago Cubs as compensation for Epstein's hire by the Cubs as club president.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Over the Monster and Deadspin
RELATED:
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Dice-K throws in bullpen, on ‘very good pace’
Dice-K throws in bullpen, on ‘very good pace’
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Hamels says focus is baseball, not money — CLEARWATER, Fla. - If Cole Hamels really believes everything he said Monday - and there is no reason to think otherwise - then the youngest of the Phillies' three aces should have a contract extension in place by opening day in Pittsburgh.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies commit to Jim Tracy ‘indefinitely’ with new deal — Rockies manager Jim Tracy hits during a spring training baseball workout on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Darron Cummings, The Associated Press) — SCOTTSDALE — In an offseason defined by change …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Purple Row, Baseball Nation and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rockies, Tracy Have “Handshake Agreement” On Extension
Rockies, Tracy Have “Handshake Agreement” On Extension
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays say Brignac-Rodriguez shortstop battle will come down to little things — PORT CHARLOTTE — The biggest position battle in Rays camp will be at shortstop, and the decision between Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez may be determined by the little things.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admits that the Bombers didn't try to win AL East in final weeks of 2010 season — Said there was nothing to gain, extols new two-team wild card format — New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman speaks to reporters outside the Yankees club house on the day pitchers …
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says stalking scandal has been ‘difficult,’ won't let it affect job with Bombers
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says stalking scandal has been ‘difficult,’ won't let it affect job with Bombers
Discussion:
ESPN, Pinstripe Alley and IT IS HIGH!
Baseball America:
2012 Top 100 Prospects — ADDITIONAL TOP 100 PROSPECTS COVERAGE — Jim Callis Column: Seeing where unsigned players would fit in the Top 100 — Comps: We ask scouts for comps on this year's Terrific Trio — Hard To Pick: We ask front office officials to tell us who they'd put No. 1
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com
Steve Kornacki / Globe and Mail:
The Tao of a slim Blue Jay Brett Cecil — DUNEDIN, FLA.— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail — Third base coach Brian Butterfield was one of many who did a double-take upon spotting left-handed starter Brett Cecil, who lost 33 pounds since last seen in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Free agent Ivan Rodriguez hoping for another shot — DETROIT (AP) - Ivan Rodriguez is working out daily to keep his 40-year-old body in shape, hoping he'll get a chance to play this season. — The 14-time All-Star and 13-time Gold Glove catcher insists he's not ready to retire - yet.
Erik Malinowski / Deadspin:
The Making Of “Homer At The Bat,” The Episode That Conquered Prime Time 20 Years Ago Tonight — On Feb. 20, 1992, more American homes tuned into The Simpsons than they did The Cosby Show or the Winter Olympics from Albertville, France. A foul-mouthed cartoon on a fourth-place network bested …
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Relievers won't prepare to be spot starters — JUPITER, Fla. — Manager Mike Matheny suggested that the Cardinals have no immediate plans to extend the workload of some projected Cards relievers in order to have them ready as an emergency starter. — That means that, barring any injuries …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
R.B. Fallstrom / Globe and Mail:
Adam Wainwright's season-ending elbow injury last February …
Adam Wainwright's season-ending elbow injury last February …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Trustee Says Mets Saw Madoff as House Money — Saul Katz called it the Madoff “vig.” — Vig, or vigorish, is a gambling term, meaning the money a bookmaker collects on every bet taken, regardless of the outcome — a kind of dependable handling fee. — To the court-appointed trustee suing Katz …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Deadspin
Vegas Watch:
2012 MLB Wins Over/Unders — New York 93.0 o-115 Detroit 94.0 o-115 Texas 94.0 o-115 — Tampa Bay 87.5 o-122 Kansas City 78.5 u-119 Los Angeles 89.5 o-135 — Boston 87.5 o-115 Chicago 77.5 o-115 Oakland 73.0 o-115
Discussion:
THE BOOK and Batter's Box Interactive …
Michael Woods / Toronto Star:
The baseball gospel according to Garfoose: Q and A with former Blue Jay Dirk Hayhurst — Dirk (The Garfoose) Hayhurst isn't your typical relief pitcher. Known for his mythical creation called a Garfoose, a “fire breathing, magically empowered, indestructible, Wi-Fi enabled, half-giraffe half-moose …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees reach agreement with Ibanez — TAMPA — The Yankees reached agreement with Raul Ibanez this morning on a one-year, $1.1 million contract plus incentives, pending a physical. — Ibanez is being brought in to be the primary DH against righty pitching.
Discussion:
NESN.com
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Crawford not ruling out return by Opening Day — Left fielder puts rough first season with Red Sox behind him — FORT MYERS, Fla. — For Carl Crawford, the final indignity of a season gone horribly wrong was that line drive off the bat of Robert Andino at Camden Yards that glanced off …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Henry reacts to Crawford's comments
Henry reacts to Crawford's comments
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Soxaholix