Top News:
Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Matsuzaka too pricey for M's — Team decides not to bid for rights to Japanese pitcher — The Mariners have decided the price for Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka is too steep, confirming Wednesday they will not bid for the rights to sign him.
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Mariners won't bid for Matsuzaka — Team instead expected to pursue Schmidt and/or Eaton — SEATTLE — There figures to be a handful of Major League teams who will be involved in the posting process for the right to sign Japanese starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. — But the Seattle Mariners won't be one of them.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Bidding war is on deck — Japanese ace on way — TOKYO - Daisuke Matsuzaka was so enamored by Major League Baseball, the Japanese righthander made a special trip to the United States to watch the Yankees and Braves meet in the World Series seven years ago. Next season he plans to return, this time as a big leaguer.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Pirates' AAA Skipper Is Latest to Interview — The Washington Nationals have interviewed yet another candidate for their open managerial job, talking to Trent Jewett, the manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Class AAA affiliate, about becoming Frank Robinson's replacement.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Kim appears to be a piece of the puzzle — The Rockies are convinced of Byung-Hyun Kim's durability, but they want assurances of his creativity before picking up his club option at today's deadline. — All signs point toward the team exercising the $2.5 million option …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Fogg, Rockies ponder future — Team has six weeks to offer right-hander deal for next season — Right-handed pitcher Josh Fogg's future with the Rockies is on hold. — Fogg, who was second on the team in victories with an 11-9 record in 2006, is eligible for arbitration.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Donnie: I need to learn — No guarantees, but as bench coach he is in line to succeed Torre — Don Mattingly's promotion to bench coach solidifies his status as Yankees manager-in-waiting, but he stressed yesterday he's not counting on getting it just yet.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Mota handed 50-game suspension — Reliever tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs — Free agent reliever Guillermo Mota, most recently of the New York Mets, became the first Major League player to be suspended for 50 games under the league's revamped drug program after testing positive …
Discussion:
Chicks Dig The Pitchers' Duel
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Search in phase two — The Rangers finished their first round of interviews for a new manager Wednesday, wrapping up by interviewing bench coach Don Wakamatsu. — On Tuesday, they interviewed Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman. — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said earlier …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Matthews has Angels interested — Team also reportedly will bid on Zito, but not Japanese sensation Matsuzaka. Stoneman tells Kennedy he will not be retained. — The representative for free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., said the Angels are "extremely interested" …
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres to interview Baker on Monday — Former longtime Giants manager candidate for skipper job — A new but familiar name — Dusty Baker — has been added to the list of candidates for the Padres' managerial vacancy. — A three-time National League Manager of the Year …
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Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Batted Balls in 2006 — Here at the Hardball Times, we're known for our batted ball stats, things like fly balls and ground balls and line drives. To be fair, they're not really our stats. We purchase them from Baseball Info Solutions and make them available to you on our website and in our Annual.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
MLB stars rally, tie Yomiuri Giants — TOKYO — Quicker than you could say "World Baseball Classic carryover", the traveling team of Major League Baseball All-Stars put together an epic comeback in the top of the ninth to stave off defeat against the Yomiuri Giants.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ortiz latest Nat to file for free agency — Righty says he'd like to stay in D.C., but odds are 50-50 — WASHINGTON — Nationals right-hander Ramon Ortiz filed for free agency on Wednesday, bringing the total of Nationals free agents to five. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano …
Discussion:
D.C. Sports Bog
Sports Illustrated:
No Sheff delight (cont.) — Dombrowski will stay — Tigers owner Mike Ilitch knows when he's got a good thing, and he isn't about to let president and general manager Dave Dombrowski go to the Cubs. Dombrowski & Co. — his baseball people Al Avila, John Westhoff and Scott Reid …
