Top News:
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres trade Barfield for Cleveland prospects — The Padres have ignited the hot-stove season Wednesday, trading second baseman Josh Barfield to the Indians for highly regarded Triple-A third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and Triple-A pitcher Andrew Brown. — Barfield, 23, gave the Padres …
RELATED ITEMS:
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres choose Black as manager — The Padres have decided on Bud Black as their manager, according to major league sources. — Black, 49, is expected to attend the team's award banquet in downtown San Diego on Thursday. Black, a former San Diego State pitcher who lives in Rancho Santa Fe …
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Indians get Barfield from Padres — CLEVELAND (AP) — Just like his dad, Josh Barfield made it to the big leagues. Now, he's following his father to the American League. — Barfield, who as a rookie second baseman helped San Diego win a division title, was acquired Wednesday by the Cleveland Indians …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians grab Barfield from Padres — Tribe gives up Kouzmanoff, Brown to get second baseman — CLEVELAND — Mere days into the Hot Stove season, the Indians have addressed one of their most glaring holes. — The Tribe acquired 23-year-old second baseman Josh Barfield from the Padres …
Associated Press:
Padres hire Angels coach Bud Black as manager — SAN DIEGO — Angels pitching coach Bud Black was hired Wednesday to replace Bruce Bochy as the manager of the San Diego Padres, a baseball official said. — Black will be introduced at the team's awards banquet Thursday night, the official said …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Zito contacts new Rangers skipper — Washington says the lefty is considering Texas this offseason — ARLINGTON — New Rangers manager Ron Washington has been hearing from many old friends since being hired on Sunday. — Among those who called was free-agent pitcher Barry Zito.
RELATED ITEMS:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Pettis joins Rangers staff — Former outfielder latest coach to follow Washington to Texas — The Rangers could lose Gary Matthews Jr. to free agency, but they picked up a Gold Glove center fielder Wednesday. — Only problem: He last won the award in 1990.
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:Hitting coach for A's expected to join Cubs
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
New hitting coach wants Cubs in a zone — Another Lou Piniella protégé was brought into the organization on Wednesday when the Cubs named Gerald Perry to replace Gene Clines as hitting coach. — Perry, who started out as a hitting coach under Piniella in Seattle from 2000-02 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED ITEMS:
Baseball America:
New York Yankees — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
RELATED ITEMS:
Ronald Blum / Houston Chronicle:
Sheffield can't talk to Steinbrenner — NEW YORK — Gary Sheffield said he's being blocked by "middle men" from speaking with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner about his desire to stay in New York and will comply with the team's request to form a list of clubs he'd prefer to be traded to.
Baseball America:
Dodgers Promote White, Hire Watson — After seeing the impact of Logan White's draftees on the Dodgers' 2006 roster, general manager Ned Colletti came away impressed. — So impressed, that in remaking the Dodgers' scouting and player development staff roster, Colletti not only kept White, but he promoted him.
RELATED ITEMS:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Rockies would be wise to move Jennings — The Rockies' sales pitch could go like this: — Available in trade: 200-inning pitcher, signed for 2007 season at $5.5 million. Posted 3.78 ERA last season, 12th best in the National League. Won at Coors Field when the park was a hitter's paradise.
RELATED ITEMS:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander receives rookie honor — Pitcher recognized by peers with MLB Players Choice Award — DETROIT — The second of what will likely be a triple crown of rookie honors for Justin Verlander came Wednesday, when he was honored as the American League's Outstanding Rookie as part of the MLB Players Choice Awards.
USA Today:
Young staff buoys Pirates' hopes — Things have gotten so bad for the Pittsburgh Pirates that even Batman took a few swings at the organization this year. — Actor Michael Keaton, a suburban Pittsburgh native who played the Caped Crusader in the 1989 movie Batman, criticized the team's owners …
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — The Decline of the Fall — Here's a travel tip: if you're going away for five days, and you wear both contacts and glasses, remember to pack the latter. Especially if you're going to watch a lot of bad baseball. — As you read what follows, remember the golden rule around here: I Am Not A Scout.
Jim Salisbury / Philadelphia Inquirer:
Lopes wants to stress Phils' need for speed — Seldom does the first-base coach get this much attention, but, hey, Davey Lopes is here to do more than pick up the helmets, and everyone knows it. — Part of the Phillies' beefed-up coaching staff, Lopes drew a crowd of reporters during …
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com - MLB:
Phils essentially held hostage by Burrell's no-trade clause … PHILADELPHIA — Phillies general manager Pat Gillick is quite nimble for a 69-year-old. Just think of all the hoops he jumped through before dealing Jim Thome and Bobby Abreu, high-profile players with big salaries and complete no-trade clauses.
