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:
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
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:
Yahoo! Sports, MetsBlog.com and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Lenny Dykstra sentenced to 3 years — SAN FERNANDO, Calif. — Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra was sentenced Monday to three years in state prison in a grand theft auto case. — Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig sentenced Dykstra after refusing to allow him to withdraw a no-contest plea.
Discussion:
utsandiego.com and HardballTalk
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Lowrie swings hot bat early in Grapefruit play — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Dan Uggla went 2-for-3 with a home run and Brian McCann went 2-for-3 and scored twice to lead the Braves to an 10-5 victory over the Astros in the first Grapefruit League meeting between the clubs on Monday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Fernando Martinez goes deep in Astros debut
Fernando Martinez goes deep in Astros debut
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Pineda debuts with two shutout innings — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Right-hander Michael Pineda made his Yankees Grapefruit League debut on Monday afternoon in a 9-3 loss to the Phillies at Bright House Field, allowing one hit and striking out two across two innings.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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
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
RELATED:
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
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, Where Have You Gone …, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
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
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Crawford will rest wrist for a week — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford will shut down for about a week to rest his sore left wrist, manager Bobby Valentine announced. — “He was examined (by Dr. Donald Sheridan) and determined that he should curtail his swinging …
Discussion:
CBS New York, Full Count, the joy of sox and Eye on Baseball
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
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