Top News:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Mets, Citigroup strike stadium deal — NEW YORK (AP) — Goodbye, Shea Stadium; hello, CitiField. — The Mets and Citigroup Inc. have agreed on a 20-year sponsorship deal for the team's new ballpark that is worth more than an average of $20 million annually and includes stadium naming rights, a baseball official said Saturday.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Report: Mets strike stadium naming deal — New ballpark to be called CitiField at groundbreaking ceremony — NEW YORK — The name of the Mets' new home ballpark will be Shea no more, come 2009. The successor to Shea, the club's home since 1964, is to be named CitiField, according to several newspapers and Internet reports.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
New York Times:
Mets' New Park to Be Named CitiField — The Mets and Citigroup have agreed on a 20-year sponsorship deal to call the team's new stadium CitiField. — The announcement will be made at a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow, a baseball official who was briefed on the ceremony said, confirming a report on the deal Friday by Bloomberg News.
Discussion:
Field of Schemes
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Sox roll the Dai-ce: Appear front-runner for Japanese ace — Coming off their worst season in five years, the Red Sox emerged yesterday as a front-runner for Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, whom many regard as the best pitcher available this offseason.
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Foulke has it his way — Theo Epstein must have hung up the phone and done a backflip, maybe a handspring, maybe even a cartwheel, too. He probably put on a tutu and did pirouettes down Boylston Street to share the news with Johnny from Burger King. — Keith Foulke is gone. — Whoppers for everyone.
Eric Justic / MLB.com:
Abreu burning it up in Arizona — First baseman coming up clutch for Mesa in AFL action — Michel Abreu already has plenty of good things to remember from his Arizona Fall League season. — The highlights include a seven-game hitting streak capped by a two-homer, five-RBI performance.
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Michael Echan / MLB.com:
Morgan displaying versatility in Hawaii — Catcher Doumit hits fourth home run in Mexican Winter League — Pirates prospect Nyjer Morgan, who leads Hawaii Winter Baseball with 17 stolen bases and ranks second with a .301 average, stole four bases this week.
Marc Jimenez / MLB.com:
Day trying to find his groove in Arizona — Reliever one of many Sox prospects whose season goes on — It's been tough to judge the merits of 6-foot-4 reliever Dewon Day. — On one hand, the Scottsdale Scorpions hurler has been overpowering with 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Acta to be named Nats' next manager — Former Mets coach to become second skipper in team history — WASHINGTON — The Nationals will name Mets third-base coach Manny Acta as their new manager on Tuesday, according to a high-ranking baseball official. Acta will sign a two-year contract, but terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Acta leaving Mets for Nats — It looks as if the Mets will be searching not only for new players but a new third-base coach. — Manny Acta, the Mets' third-base coach for the past two seasons, will become the new manager of the Washington Nationals, an official from an American League team …
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cubs' Ramirez declines to sign with Cubs — Lou Piniella, the Cubs' new manager, can't be in a very good mood. A challenging off-season for the Cubs just became even more difficult. — Third baseman Aramis Ramirez will test free agency, FOXSports.com has learned, creating yet another hole …
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Associated Press:
Yanks discuss trading right-hander Wright to Orioles — NEW YORK — The Yankees and Orioles were discussing a deal Saturday that would send Jaret Wright to Baltimore for prospects. — Wright and Yankees teammate Mike Mussina filed provisionally for free agency Saturday, awaiting decisions on team options for 2007.
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Ryan McConnell / MLB.com:
Bergolla stays hot in Venezuela — Infielder one of several Reds prospects in offseason leagues — William Bergolla may not look like Ted Williams, but he's hitting like him this fall. — Bergolla continued his scorching Venezuela Winter League campaign this week …
Discussion:
The Cutting Edge
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Owen Perkins / MLB.com:
Lasorda honored for selfless service — Receives Lifetime Community Service Achievement Award — DENVER — When the Rotary Club of Denver decided to celebrate 15 years of its Branch Rickey Award for unselfish community service by handing out its first Lifetime Community Service Achievement Award …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
McCann earns first Silver Slugger — Braves catcher enjoyed award-winning sophomore season — ATLANTA — When the Braves traded Johnny Estrada in December, they showed Brian McCann they were fully confident in his ability to be their everyday catcher. But even McCann couldn't have foreseen …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres bid on Japan's Iwamura — Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday the club forwarded a bid for the negotiating rights to Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, viewing the versatile 27-year-old as a candidate for second base, an outfield spot or a super-utility job.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
