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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
M.L.B. Defends Fred Wilpon and His Financial Role — It sounds like a punch line: Fred Wilpon, the majority owner of the Mets, is the new chairman of Major League Baseball's finance committee. — Wilpon was a victim of Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme and has slashed the payroll of a team that has struggled significantly with debt.
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HardballTalk, Metsblog, Bless You Boys, MLB Trade Rumors, Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Rob Manfred's top five priorities
Rob Manfred's top five priorities
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baseballmusings.com, Lone Star Ball and SI.com
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Manfred defends Fred Wilpon's role on finance committee
MLB.com:
Commissioner Rob Manfred's letter to fans — Rob Manfred is the 10th Commissioner of Major League Baseball. — Dear Fans: — On the night of August 14, 2014, I left a Baltimore hotel after being elected Commissioner of Baseball. As I began to reply to the overwhelming number …
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Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
Outgoing Commissioner given Long and Meritorious Service Award
Outgoing Commissioner given Long and Meritorious Service Award
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Talking Chop and Amazin' Avenue
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Indians ace ‘excited about getting going’ for 2015 season — Hall of Famer John Smoltz presents Indians pitcher Corey Kluber with the 2014 American League Cy Young Award during the 2015 BBWAA dinner — CLEVELAND — It sat near the edge of a table inside the training room within the Indians' clubhouse.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Progressive Field should be ready for Indians' April 10 home opener — Crews begin work in the right-field area that eventually will be home to a new two-story, climate-controlled bar at Progressive Field — CLEVELAND — Fans pouring into Tribe Fest this weekend were able to get a glimpse …
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MLB Trade Rumors
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankees working to void milestone bonuses for Alex Rodriguez as he closes in on Willie Mays on home run list — A-Rod, who has 654 career home runs, needs to hit just six more to tie Willie Mays' 660 homers and become eligible for a $6 million bonus. He'll collect $6 million for everyone he passes on the all-time list.
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Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
A-Rod, sans lawyers, secretly meets with incoming commish
A-Rod, sans lawyers, secretly meets with incoming commish
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Teri Thompson / NY Daily News:
Yankees reject Alex Rodriguez's mea culpa meeting request after Biogenesis scandal
Yankees reject Alex Rodriguez's mea culpa meeting request after Biogenesis scandal
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CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Shi Davidi / Sportsnet.ca:
Blue Jays end negotiations for Orioles' Duquette — TORONTO — Negotiations for Dan Duquette are over after the Toronto Blue Jays refused to consider the Baltimore Orioles' demands for promising right-hander Jeff Hoffman and two other top prospects as compensation for the executive.
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Bob Elliott / Toronto Sun:
The inside story on how Rogers tried to replace Blue Jays president Paul Beeston
The inside story on how Rogers tried to replace Blue Jays president Paul Beeston
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Toronto Star, South Side Sox, ESPN, New York Post, Camden Chat and MLB Trade Rumors
Nada Tawfik / BBC:
Baseball's toxic tradition of chewing tobacco — Cheeks bulging with chewing tobacco are a common sight on the baseball pitch. — Once described as the nation's religion, baseball has a special place in American culture. But there is a darker side: the cancer-causing tradition of chewing tobacco …
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Hector Olivera Showcase Report — When it comes to 29-year-old Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera, three words come up often that aren't common to hear in the scouting community: — “I don't know.” — For the scouts who followed Olivera on the Cuban national team from 2008-10, they loved what they saw.
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MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Dutton / Mariners Insider:
Mariners notebook: Jackson looking to bounce back from disappointing year — SEATTLE — Familiarity can also breed contentment. That's Austin Jackson's view as he prepares for his first full season with the Mariners after two disappointing months last year following his July 31 arrival.
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HardballTalk, CBSSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Michael Lecolant / Rising Apple:
Zack Wheeler must lead Mets turnaround against Washington Nationals — FOLLOW @#! /BTB_MIKEBHURST … There's a saying long popularized by wrestling great Ric Flare - in order to be the man, you gotta beat the man. — That holds true for Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets.
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Metsblog