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11:00 PM ET, April 2, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Reds, Joey Votto Nearing Extension  —  5:59pm: It's a ten-year, $225MM contract according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).  The deal eclipses Fielder's nine-year, $214MM with the Tigers.  —  5:20pm: Heyman hears that the deal is ten total years and worth almost exactly $200MM (Twitter links).
RELATED:
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
Votto, Reds close to extension  —  The Reds and first baseman Joey Votto were on the verge of agreeing to a contract extension as the Reds broke camp.  —  Votto confirmed that the sides were close but would not go beyond that.  —  “You'll you to talk to (general manager Walt Jocketty),” Votto said.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Bailey getting a second opinion on thumb; surgery is expected  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox took a gamble when they acquired Andrew Bailey from the Oakland Athletics in December.  The righthander unquestionably had the talent and temperament to replace Jonathan Papelbon as the closer but had a troubling history with injuries.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Josh Beckett getting exam but is expected to make his first start  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Josh Beckett has a thumb injury that is being checked out Monday in San Antonio.  But manager Bobby Valentine said he “totally” expects Beckett to start against the Detroit Tigers Saturday.
Gerry Spratt / San Francisco Giants:
Details of Matt Cain's new contract  —  UPDATE FROM HENRY SCHULMAN, REPORTING FROM INTERSTATE 5: As we reported, this is a five-year, $112.5 million extension with club option for 2018 that vests automatically for $21 million if Cain hits an innings target in 2017.
RELATED:
Janie Mccauley / Associated Press:
Cain agrees to $127.5M, 6-year deal with Giants  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Cain has that hefty new contract he hoped for before opening day.  —  Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed Monday to a $127.5 million, six-year contract, the largest deal for a right-handed pitcher in baseball history.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Comcast SportsNet:
Sources: Cain-Giants contract talks heat up
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Greinke mum on Cain comparison  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke had no trouble giving an honest assessment of the “meatballs” he threw at the Chicago White Sox on Monday.  But when the questions turned off the field, to the competitor with the big, new contract, he got quiet.
Discussion: MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports and Brew Beat
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Miss America to throw out ceremonial first pitch
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball and Brew Beat
Associated Press:
Reds LH Chapman moved back to bullpen  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Left-hander Aroldis Chapman is headed back to the Cincinnati Reds' injury-depleted bullpen after spending spring training getting ready to be a starter.  —  Chapman, entering his third season with Cincinnati …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Braves:
Braves reliever Martinez arrested for DUI - updated  —  Braves reliever Cristhian Martinez was arrested early Monday morning in Gwinnett County on charges of DUI, after allegedly weaving in and out of a lane and traveling at a low speed on I-85, confirmed Gwinnett County police spokesman Corporal Jake Smith.
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Associated Press:
Rollins Drives in 2, Leads Phillies Over Pirates  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — With a new-look lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies showed they can play small ball.  —  Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs, Freddy Galvis hit a tiebreaking triple in the seventh inning and the Phillies beat …
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Hudson has first outing of spring for Braves  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Tim Hudson made his first appearance of the spring, allowing an infield single over two innings for the Atlanta Braves in an 8-2 loss to the New York Mets.  —  Ruben Tejada hit a three-run homer and Bobby Parnell allowed two hits over three innings for New York.
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and Amazin' Avenue
Todd Wills / MLB.com:
Gonzalez, Snyder, Gentry make Texas' bench  —  ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Rangers finalized their bench for their Opening Day roster, keeping infielders Alberto Gonzalez and Brandon Snyder and outfielder Craig Gentry.  —  Julio Borbon, the Rangers' starting center fielder on Opening Day the past two seasons …
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
Power Rankings: Yankees in top spot to start year  —  ESPN.com  —  A new season awaits.  Could a new champion be crowned once it's all said and done?  We shall see.  —  The New York Yankees sit atop of our first MLB Power Rankings of the season.  —  The Texas Rangers …
 
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 More News: 
Globe and Mail:
Fielder, Young power Tigers past Blue Jays
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Associated Press:
Jimenez gets five-game ban for hitting Tulowitzki
Discussion: SI Tracking Blog
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
The powerful piece of paper that is the Tampa Bay Rays lease
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets and Jon Niese closing in on five-year deal
Mark Sheldon / Mark My Word:
Francis headed to AAA
Discussion: HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Upton targeting return by mid-April
 Earlier Picks: 
Washington Post:
For Nationals' Jayson Werth, comforts of home make all the difference
Discussion: HardballTalk
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Bay may start to lose grip on regular LF job
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies growing old: Aging in a young man's game
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays giving catcher Jose Lobaton opportunity to prove himself in majors
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Butera optioned to Minors in latest round of cuts
 

 
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