Top News:
Dan Hayes / North County Times:
PADRES: Club “very close” to contract extension with Maybin — PEORIA, Ariz. — Cameron Maybin is poised to wear a Padres uniform for several seasons to come. — A front office source confirmed Saturday morning the Padres and Maybin are “very close” to finalizing a long-term contract …
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Gaslamp Ball, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and FanGraphs Baseball
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Cameron Maybin agrees to $25M deal — The San Diego Padres and outfielder Cameron Maybin have agreed to terms on a five-year, $25 million contract, the team announced Saturday. — The deal also contains a club option for a sixth year. — “Cameron has certainly emerged as a core player …
Gene Cherry / Reuters:
Padres' Maybin Agrees Five-Year Deal — (Reuters) - The San Diego Padres have signed outfielder Cameron Maybin to a five-year contract extension with an option for the 2017 season, the Major League Baseball team said on Saturday. — Financial terms were not announced but San Diego media reported …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Joyce, Price impressive in Rays' spring opener — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau both delivered RBI singles to help lead the Twins to a 7-3 win over the Rays on Saturday at Hammond Stadium in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams. — Matt Joyce, named an All-Star …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town and Bollinger Beat
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Alex Rodriguez steps up to challenge Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. - On the morning of the first game they'd play since Game 5, the night the New York Yankees all went home for the winter, Alex Rodriguez stood before them and, according to witnesses, gave the sort of speech that wouldn't have been possible five years ago.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Kershaw to start LA's season and home opener — Last Dodgers pitcher to achieve feat was Belcher in 1989 — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw will start both the season opener and the Dodgers' home opener, manager Don Mattingly confirmed on Saturday before his club took batting practice …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Axford, Brewers will keep talking — The Brewers renewed closer John Axford's contract for $525,000 on Saturday but will continue discussions about a multiyear contract extension, assistant general manager Gord Ash said. — Friday marked the start of a 10-day period in which teams could …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports and Brew Crew Ball
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Pirates agree to terms with 25 for 2012 season — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates on Saturday morning announced they reached contract agreements with 25 players, bringing their entire 40-man roster into the fold. — The deadline to negotiate contracts and to automatically renew …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Replacing the Duncan trunks — JUPITER, Fla. • This vast traveling library lived in a red, wheeled trunk that was modeled after an equipment box that was once re-engineered to have a secret compartment for stashing booze during prohibition. — Hiding goodies goes with the job.
MLB.com:
SINGLE GAME TICKET ONSALE — 3 Ways to Purchase Single Game Tickets — MasterCard® First Chance Presale online at Cubs.com — 2. Friday, March 9, at 8 a.m. CST — In person at Wrigley Field (wristbands only — see wristbands details below) — 3. Friday, March 9, at 10 a.m. CST
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
MLB expands playoff format from 8 teams to 10 — NEW YORK, N.Y. - With less than a month to go before opening day, baseball at last decided who's in and who's out come October. — Now, even a third-place team can win the World Series. — Major League Baseball made it official Friday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB Approves Expanded Playoffs For 2012, Sill Lowest of Big-4 Sports
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
The new MLB postseason — How expansion will affect September races …
The new MLB postseason — How expansion will affect September races …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Phillies Nation
Associated Press:
Mets Scratch Wright With Left Side Soreness — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets third baseman David Wright was scratched from the lineup for the intrasquad game on Saturday because of soreness on his left side. — The Mets say he has stiffness near his ribcage and will be replaced by Zach Lutz in the lineup.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Pitching prospects Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia have NY Mets armed for future — Mets can't wait for prospects to pitch in — Mets prospect Jeurys Familia impresses batters and Mets wth two scoreless innings. — PORT ST. LUCIE — An intrasquad game without a single projected starter in either lineup?
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, MetsBlog.com and New Jersey Online