Top News:
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
For Pitchers, National League Really Is an Easier Out — The quip has become a chorus. — In debating whether Barry Zito will earn his $126 million from the San Francisco Giants after posting a combined 3.85 earned run average with the Oakland Athletics the last two seasons, doubters say, "But he is going to the National League."
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Sean McAdam / ESPN:
Jays no longer playing second fiddle to Yanks, Sox — For the last five seasons, the Toronto Blue Jays have been fighting what sometimes feels like a losing battle. — Locked into a division with baseball's two biggest super powers, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the Blue Jays have felt overwhelmed and undermanned.
Todd Jacobson / Free Lance-Star:
Nationals sign pitching prospects — They're young, eager, and like most of the candidates to make the Washington Nationals' wide-open starting rotation, intent on proving they can pitch in the big leagues again. — For the two newest Nationals, that's what team officials are hoping happens.
Harry Stein / New York Times:
Writers Scrutinize Big Mac and Themselves — In an article that ran Wednesday — the day after he and his fellow baseball writers emphatically rejected Mark McGwire's candidacy for the Hall of Fame — the Toronto Globe and Mail columnist Stephen Brunt recalled a news conference …
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Associated Press:
McGwire proud of career, says he has "no control" over Hall of Fame vote — TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — Mark McGwire had little to say about being left out of Cooperstown in his first public comments since the Hall of Fame announcement. — The former slugger talked briefly Saturday …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets still looking to fill holes in rotation — Jorge Sosa. Ramon Ortiz. Aaron Sele. — Those are the types of free-agent pitchers the Mets are considering as they continue their search for additional help for their starting rotation, with Sosa perhaps the leading option.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Bucs Trade Winds and MLB.com
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Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
METS & SOSA NEAR DEAL; PEREZ RE-UPS — Righty Jorge Sosa is close to signing a short-term deal with the Mets, a baseball source confirmed last night. — Sosa was 3-11 with a 5.42 ERA with Atlanta and St. Louis last season, when he made 13 starts in 45 appearances. The 29-year-old earned $2.2 million last season.
Gregg Sarra / Newsday:
On deck with Donnie — UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Yankees fans still see Don Mattingly as a player. And when the ever-popular icon walked the stage at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center, bat in hand, he still looked as if he could turn around a 95-mph fastball. — But fans weren't lined …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Lobsterman From Nicaragua Could Join Red Sox Cast — Devern Hansack. Remember the name. Remember it because it is the name of a pitcher who pitched a no-hitter that most everyone probably doesn't know about. — A long rain delay preceded the game Hansack pitched on the last day of last season, and rain shortened it.
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Running in place — Sox among majority of AL teams that haven't improved in winter — What kind of winter has it been for the White Sox? — We won't know if it has been good or bad for a few years, probably, but it says something that Ken Williams recently felt it necessary to remind …
Marc Tompkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Piniella always ready to take up a worthy cause … With less than five weeks until the start of spring training, Lou Piniella is getting more and more excited about getting back in uniform. He goes to Chicago this week to pick out an apartment, make some appearances and attend his first Cubs Convention …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Clemens still undecided about 2007 — Pitching legend says he is only considering three teams — HOUSTON — Roger Clemens is no closer to a decision on whether he will pitch in 2007, but the seven-time Cy Young Award winner said on Saturday if he does return, he will be behind last season's timetable.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Nutting, McClatchy stress development, accountability — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Bob Nutting and Kevin McClatchy read the newspapers, hear the talk shows, click on the Web. They know that the general perception is that the Pirates' ownership makes a priority …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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Jim Street / MLB.com:
More than 100 file for arbitration — Cubs' Zambrano, Marlins' Willis among group — Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano highlights a list of 106 players who filed for salary arbitration prior to Friday night's deadline. — The next step in the salary arbitration process comes Wednesday …
Dallas Star-Telegram:
Pitcher Lopez dealt by Orioles — The Colorado Rockies obtained right-hander Rodrigo Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday for minor league right-handers Jim Miller and Jason Burch. — Lopez was 9-18 with a 5.90 ERA last season in 29 starts and seven relief appearances.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
