Top News:
Bloomberg:
Mets Owners Told to Pay Illegal Madoff Profits — The New York Mets owners have to give up as much as $83 million in illegal profits from Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and face a trial over another $303 million of their own money to determine if they acted in bad faith, a judge ruled.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Mets' Owners Await Judge's Ruling — A federal judge's ruling Monday in Manhattan will determine the fate of the Mets' owners in their protracted legal fight against the trustee for the victims of Bernard L. Madoff. — He can dismiss the case or let it go to a trial March 19.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Yahoo! Sports and Amazin' Avenue
NY Daily News:
Judge refuses to dismiss NY Mets' case with Bernard Madoff trustee — Irving Picard can claim as much as $83.3 million in “fictitious profits” without a trial — New York Mets owners Jeff Wilpon (l.), Saul Katz and Fred Wilpon (r.) are selling 10 to 12 $20 million minority stakes in the team …
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Extension Candidate: Neil Walker — With Andrew McCutchen's extension completed, the Pirates will focus their attention on second baseman Neil Walker, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Biertempfel believes a Walker extension may be “pricier than they originally expected,” but the team will still pony up.
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Legends enhance new day — Red Sox christen yet another first — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Our fathers had Dominic DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams; the greatest ballplayers for the Greatest Generation, “The Teammates” who stand together forever in bronze outside Fenway Park's Gate B on Van Ness Street.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Anderson hits slam in Beckett's solid debut
Anderson hits slam in Beckett's solid debut
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com and Over the Monster
Mark McCarter / Breaking News from The Huntsville Times:
Don Mincher, long-time baseball figure, dies at 73 — HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Don Mincher, the gentlemanly figure synonymous with Huntsville baseball for a half-century, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 73. — Crowned in 2010 as “King of Baseball,” the highest honor in Minor League Baseball …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, McCutchen agree on new contract — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates and star center fielder Andrew McCutchen agreed to terms on a six-year contract worth $51.5 million with a club option for 2018 worth $14.75 million, according to a source. — The contract will buy …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, baseballmusings.com, Where Have You Gone …, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Valley Fever may not scare Ike Davis or NY Mets, but team must be scared about lack of depth — Lack of spending on quality backups screams of financial troubles — On a team that can't afford any aches and pains, Mets prospect Zach Lutz is hit by pitch to end intrasquad game.
Discussion:
New York Times, Kranepool Society, New Jersey Online, MetsBlog.com, Bats and ESPN
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Phillies trades may prove to be costly — DUNEDIN, Fla. - Walk into Bright House Field or Citizens Bank Park on a game day and count the number of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee jerseys. — It's understandable that Phillies fans have fallen madly in love with the top …
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com and MLB Rumors
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs-Giants tilt delayed by swarm of bees — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sunday's D-backs-Giants game at Salt River Fields was delayed for 41 minutes by a swarm of bees. — With no score and one out in the top of the second, the Giants, who ended up 11-1 winners, had runners on second and third …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Snider delivers as Blue Jays beat Bucs — Left fielder drives in three runs as Toronto takes spring rematch — BRADENTON, Fla. — Travis Snider drove in three runs — two on a comebacker to the pitcher — as the Blue Jays downed the Pirates, 8-5, to sweep the teams' Grapefruit League-opening two-game series.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Litsch shut down for six weeks with infection
Litsch shut down for six weeks with infection
Discussion:
North of the Border