Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Marlins, Willis agree to deal prior to exchanging figures … Dontrelle Willis reached agreement Monday on a one-year, guaranteed $6.45 million contract with the Florida Marlins, a day before he was scheduled to exchange salary arbitration figures with the club.
RELATED:
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Willis avoids arbitration, agrees to one-year deal
Willis avoids arbitration, agrees to one-year deal
Discussion:
FishStripes
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers bring in Sosa for look — Former slugging star, out of baseball in 2006, works out for team — Free agent Sammy Sosa worked out for manager Ron Washington and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo on Monday, Rangers spokesman Gregg Elkin confirmed. — He worked out in the indoor batting cages …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Sheffield Makes Noise Again, This Time in a Book — In an autobiography to be published this spring, Gary Sheffield, a player famous for voicing his displeasure, describes his relationship with Barry Bonds, his link to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case …
Discussion:
Off the Facade, D-Town Baseball, Beck's Blog, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Pride of the Yankees and WasWatching.com
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Yankee Stadium to host '08 All-Star Game … Yankee Stadium will be the site of the 2008 All-Star Game, sources in baseball said, in the last year of the ballpark. — The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009, and old Yankee Stadium closed, 86 years after the ballpark …
RELATED:
Tom Timmermann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
City gets '09 All-Star Game — The Cardinals celebrated their 2006 World Series title on Monday night at the annual baseball writers banquet and got an extra gift when Commissioner Bud Selig announced that Busch Stadium would be the host for the 2009 All-Star Game.
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Hall of Famer Sutton to Be a Voice for the Nationals — With the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles both set to broadcast their games this season on MASN, the Nationals chose Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton as their color commentator. Together with Jim Palmer, it gives the network a Hall of Fame pitcher in each team's booth.
RELATED:
Boston Herald:
Does Tom have Secret he'd like to share? — Has Tom Brady [stats] traded up? Word from San Diego is that supermodel Gisele Bundchen - who once professed her admiration for the New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT - was outside the Pats' locker room after Tom & Co. shocked the Chargers on Sunday.
Discussion:
With Leather
RELATED:
Keith Law / ESPN:
Royals have a potential star in Gordon … When Dayton Moore took over as general manager of the woeful Kansas City Royals, he inherited the worst 25-man roster in the big leagues and an organization almost completely devoid of pitching. But the cupboard wasn't bare, as the Royals …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies sign Mabry — While continuing to pursue right-hander Brian Lawrence, the Rockies landed their potential left-handed bat off the bench today. — Colorado signed veteran John Mabry, 36, to a one-year, minor-league deal. Mabry, who finished last season with the Chicago Cubs …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
MLB.com:
White Sox and Joe Crede agree to terms on one-year contract — CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.94-million contract with third baseman Joe Crede, avoiding arbitration. — Crede, 28, received his first Silver Slugger Award and was named the third baseman …
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Little could get contract extension — With the Dodgers' chances of landing a power hitter before spring training dwindling, extending the contract of Manager Grady Little is one of the few loose ends. — Little and General Manager Ned Colletti have developed such a strong relationship that neither man considers the matter urgent.
Discussion:
6-4-2
David Lennon / Newsday:
Opting for low risk — Always looking for yet another low-risk, high-reward piece to the puzzle, general manager Omar Minaya will add Jorge Sosa to his pitching ranks this week when the Mets formally announce his one-year, $1.25-million deal for next season.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
MLB.com:
Cubs agree to terms with Ohman — The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has agreed to a two-year deal through the 2008 season with left-handed pitcher Will Ohman. — Ohman, 29, set career-highs with 78 games pitched, 65.1 innings and 74 strikeouts with Chicago in 2006.
Rob / 6-4-2:
VORP 1, Mr. Scott: PECOTA Projections Now Available — Well, now that BPro's PECOTA projections are available (the actual page is here), we can learn a few things: — PECOTA projects a huge drop in Jered Weaver's ability in the second year of his major league career …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Second player needed for LaRoche deal, but who? — Pirates, Braves still stuck on Atlanta first baseman — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates are, by all accounts, casting a wide net in their search for a left-handed power bat, particularly in light …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Mets Clear a Comeback Trail for Sierra — How can you like a guy like this? — Rubén Sierra is batting in the ninth inning of a game against Texas, the last game before the All-Star Game last July. Minnesota is down by three runs with a runner on second base, two out and Joe Mauer on deck.