Top News:
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
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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.
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.
ESPN:
Drug violation nets Mets pitcher Mota 50-game ban — NEW YORK — Relief pitcher Guillermo Mota was suspended 50 games on Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. — The 33-year-old Mota, who finished the season with the Mets and filed for free agency Tuesday, was 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA this season.
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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
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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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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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Matthews Jr., Figgins in mix for Sox, Cubs — The top leadoff hitter on the free-agent market is interested in the Cubs and White Sox, but there could be a consolation prize in the likely event both teams lose out. — Agent Scott Leventhal stressed Wednesday that Chicago would provide …
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.
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko
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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 …
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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 …
Associated Press:
Burnitz may retire after Pirates decline $6M option — PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates declined their $6 million option Wednesday on spare outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and will pay him a $700,000 buyout that allows him to become a free agent — though he might retire.
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 …
