Top News:
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Yanks brush aside Sheffield's remarks — Officials have little to say about veteran's latest comments — STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gary Sheffield's latest comments didn't put much of a scare in the Yankees, as team executives brushed off the outfielder's latest jabs at the organization.
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Associated Press:
Access denied — Sheff says he's blocked from talking to Steinbrenner — NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:Sheff is hot, hot, hot — Rips Cashman, Abreu as Yanks seek sendoff
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Associated Press:
Dodgers outfielder Drew opts out of contract — LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract Thursday, making him eligible to become a free agent. — "He led the club in RBIs. You just don't snap your fingers and find another player like that …
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Inside the Dodgers:
J.D. Drew opts out — Today we learned from Scott Boras that J.D. Drew has decided to opt out of the final three years of his contract with the Dodgers. This certainly surprised most of us in the organization, given his previous comments to the contrary, but apparently there was a change of heart.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Miller back with 1-year deal — Incentives could bring up to $5.25 million — The Wade Miller experiment will continue one more year, though the Cubs hope to get a better return on their investment in 2007. — Miller, a 30-year-old right-hander, agreed to a one-year …
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MLB.com:
Cubs sign pitcher Wade Miller for 2007 season — The Chicago Cubs today announced that right-handed pitcher Wade Miller has re-signed with the Cubs for the 2007 season. — Miller, 30, originally signed with the Cubs as a free agent in January of 2006, but missed the majority of the season …
Discussion:
CubsNet.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
McClendon shifted to hitting coach — Former Bucs manager was Tigers' bullpen coach in '06 — DETROIT — Lloyd McClendon is getting the call out of the Tigers' bullpen with a bat in his hands. — Manager Jim Leyland on Thursday shifted McClendon, Detroit's bullpen coach this past season …
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Associated Press:
Tigers name Lloyd McClendon hitting coach — DETROIT - Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon was named hitting coach of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. — McClendon, who last year served as Detroit's bullpen coach, replaces Don Slaught, another former Pirate who six days ago announced …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs unveil new colors, new look — Four combinations of jerseys feature three fresh shades — PHOENIX — The D-backs' new look was on full display Wednesday night as the club unveiled its new uniforms and colors at an event attended by local celebrities as well as team members.
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Megan Finnerty / Arizona Republic:
New threads boast aggressive look — Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Conor Jackson looked hot in his new uniform. — Truthfully, he is pretty model-esque, but the new Sedona Red, Sonoran Sand and black uniform definitely helped. — Wednesday night, Jackson, Orlando Hudson …
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Bidding for pitcher has begun — Major League Baseball ordered teams late Monday afternoon not to comment on whether they submitted bids to win exclusive negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. — Before the edict was issued, however, two Rangers officials said the team had entered the bidding process.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
With bids in for Matsuzaka, hopeful winners wait — The bids are now in for Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the Seibu Lions could accept - and announce - the winning offer as soon as today, and no later than Tuesday. At that point, the designated team can begin contract discussions with Scott Boras, Matsuzaka's agent.
Discussion:
1060west
Ben Murphy / Baseball Prospectus:
Predictatron Recap — We Have a Winner! — friendly — Contact — Just as I did last year, I'm here to follow up the HACKING MASS Wrap with a look at this year's Predictatron results. This is the second year we've done the Predictatron contest, and it continues to be popular …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers focused on pair of needs — Two veteran starting pitchers, center fielder on Texas' wish list — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are ready and willing to go with a 2007 lineup that includes Brad Wilkerson in left field, Nelson Cruz in right field and Gerald Laird as their No. 1 catcher.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
GM: Swap 'perfect fit' with Indians — The Padres said they found a long-term answer at third base yesterday when they traded second baseman Josh Barfield to the Indians for right-handed slugger Kevin Kouzmanoff, a hitting star from the Cleveland farm system.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Sports Illustrated:
The edge of reason — Long-term contracts for pitcher seldom pan out — For three consecutive winters, beginning in 2002, signing a free-agent starting pitcher to more than a four-year contract was simply crazy talk. Nobody did it. Going beyond that conjured up images of Darren Dreifort …
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
Phil Wallace / MLB.com:
Q&A with Gerry Hunsicker — A chat with the Rays' senior VP of baseball operations … Wallace: So, we've learned that you own a few racing horses. Who are some of your top thoroughbreds? When will we see you in the Winner's Circle at the Kentucky Derby? — Hunsicker: First of all, I'm in the Minor Leagues of horse racing.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Reyes ends with a blast — FUKUOKA, Japan - Halfway around the world, they still know the "Jo-se, Jo-se" song. And fans gleefully chanted the soccer-style tune yesterday, after Jose Reyes capped the MLB All-Star tour of Japan with a two-run, game-ending homer in the 10th to complete …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
