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11:45 PM ET, March 8, 2013

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Furcal to have elbow surgery Wednesday  —  • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Ailing Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal will have his Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday in Pensacola, Fla. …
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
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Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Transition year looming for Cards?  —  Shortstop Rafael Furcal is finished.  Rather than putting off the inevitable any longer, Furcal will undergo Tommy John surgery and depart the Cardinal radar screen.  —  That nagging storyline has finally run its course.  The franchise moves on.
Discussion: Viva El Birdos and MLB Rumors
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Matt Harvey throwing a more consistent changeup after latest outing for NY Mets  —  Harvey used the changeup very effectively Thursday as he tossed 4.1 nearly perfect innings in the Mets' 4-1 Grapefruit League win over the Marlins at Tradition Field.  —  Matt Harvey throws 4.1 nearly perfect innings …
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
As broken leg heals, Yankees GM Brian Cashman seems content to sit and wait out injuries to Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and others  —  Even though it's spring, when GMs supposedly make only garbage-dumping deals, the word is the Padres are starting to listen to offers for Headley …
Tyler Harper / Globe and Mail:
Italy shows Canada no mercy at World Baseball Classic  —  Canada suffered a crippling loss to open the World Baseball Classic on Friday, falling 14-4 to Italy in a game that was ended by the mercy rule in the eighth inning.  —  Chris Colabello hit a three-run homer during a four-run third inning for Italy …
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
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John Marshall / Globe and Mail:
Italy scores two in ninth to stun Mexico at World Baseball Classic  —  Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run double off San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo in the ninth inning and Jason Grilli escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half to help Italy rally to beat Mexico 6-5 in the opening game …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Mo's greatness something to behold  —  We got the preview of Yankees life without Rivera last year after he tore up his knee in May.  But now he is making it final.  He is scheduled to announce his retirement — effective following the 2013 season — tomorrow.  Thus, 2013 becomes part farewell tour, part victory lap for him.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Teixeira: Wrist surgery 'doesn't look necessary'  —  JUPITER, Fla. — It could have been worse.  The timing could have been worse and the injury could have been worse for Mark Teixeira.  That doesn't mean the Yankees' first baseman isn't disappointed.  —  Teixeira spoke with reporters via …
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Donaldson Breaks Out of Slump With 2 Homers  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Josh Donaldson broke out of an 0-for-15 slump with a pair of long home runs as the Oakland Athletics' game against the Seattle Mariners was rained out in the top of the fourth inning with the Athletics ahead 12-1 Friday.
Discussion: Athletics Nation
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Giants:
Sergio Romo's long outing concerns SF Giants, plus first cuts  —  Each morning, manager Bruce Bochy meets with his coaches for half an hour to discuss issues relating to the team.  This morning, Sergio Romo's 26-pitch blown save for Mexico in the WBC on Thursday night was on the agenda.
Discussion: CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards sign Craig to 5-year deal  —  • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com and Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals did something they rarely do when they reached agreement today with first baseman Allen Craig …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and Getting Blanked
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Giants:
Aubrey Huff to the Yankees?  Not happening  —  When Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira went down with with a sprained wrist, Aubrey Huff's name was tossed about as a possible fill-in, but that is not going to happen.  —  “I'm pretty much retired,” Huff just said by phone.
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Chris Sale agrees to deal  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox and left-handed pitcher Chris Sale have agreed in principle on a five-year contract extension worth as much as $60 million, according to a league source.  —  Sale will receive $35 million guaranteed …
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Mariano Rivera to retire after season
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