Top News:
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres make Wells offer, want answer by end of week — Kevin Towers won't call it a deadline. — But he'd like to get an answer from pitcher David Wells "by the end of this week." — The Padres have made a formal contract offer to the 43-year-old left-hander after what Towers described as a series of "positive dialogues."
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Boston Herald:
Bonds backs McGwire, Rose for Hall — In the shadows of Barry Bonds endorsing the Hall of Fame induction of Mark McGwire and Pete Rose, baseball owners appear to have little interest in pursuing stricter penalties for amphetamines use, even after Bonds reportedly failed a drug test last year.
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:Bonds' leaked results could handcuff Giants
Discussion:
Sports Scope
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Braves look to strengthen bullpen with deal — The Pirates finally are on the verge of obtaining first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Braves, but the price won't simply be left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez. — The Braves also will receive Class A shortstop Brent Lillibridge …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Sports Illustrated:
NL report card — Senior Circuit makes gains on American League — The National League had some catching up to do, and it did just that this winter. The NL imported Barry Zito, Carlos Lee, Freddy Garcia and Randy Johnson from the American League. If this keeps up, things will even out before long.
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Sosa's return could bring big dividends — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels began the day Wednesday awaiting a new arrival, wondering just how big he might be. — Sammy Sosa? Oh, yeah, him, too. — But of more immediate concern was the imminent arrival of Daniels' first-born.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers near deal with Sosa, source says — The Rangers are nearing completion of an incentive-laden minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training with outfielder/DH Sammy Sosa, a source confirmed this afternoon. — The deal has not been finalized …
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Putz's breakout season for M's pays off — J.J. Putz has always been mindful of a well-worn adage: Getting to the big leagues is hard, but staying there is harder. — Thanks to his performance last season, Putz earned the assurance he's going to be around for a while.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rox remain keen on Lawrence — The Rockies could find out Thursday if starter Brian Lawrence accepts their counter-offer. Seattle, however, has emerged as the slight favorite, while Pittsburgh promised to make a new proposal Thursday. After losing out on reliever Chris Reitsma to the Mariners …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals sign four prospects — Club continues to stock system as Spring Training nears — WASHINGTON — The Nationals agreed to terms on professional contracts with catcher Sandy Leon, shortstop Adrian Sanchez, center fielder Jesus Morales and first baseman Juan Urdaneta on Wednesday.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays ink Fasano to Minor League deal — Veteran catcher realizes he'll likely begin season at Triple-A — TORONTO — Sal Fasano understands that he might not make Toronto's Opening Day roster. That didn't stop the free-agent catcher from signing with the Blue Jays, though.
Discussion:
The700Level.com
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Dan Fox / Baseball Prospectus:
Schrodinger's Bat — The Myth of the Golden Age … - Ovid, from his Metamorphoses (AD 8) — Throughout much of history humans have looked back on the remote past as a time of peace and plenty. As in the Roman poet Ovid's verse above, containing ideas that can be traced directly …
Discussion:
Dan Agonistes
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Historical Win Shares Above Bench — You may come to the Hardball Times to catch up on Bill James' Win Shares during the season. The history of Win Shares is briefly covered in this article, so I won't go into all of that here. But I will say that Win Shares is a fairly controversial …
Evan S. Benn / Miami Herald:
QB Vick raises suspicion at Miami airport — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was reluctant to throw away his 20-ounce water bottle at a Miami International Airport security checkpoint Wednesday morning. — The reason, police say: The plastic bottle had a secret compartment that …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals set to add vet Womack — Longtime utilityman can play multiple positions — WASHINGTON — Looking to improve their bench, the Nationals are set to sign infielder/outfielder Tony Womack to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, MLB.com has been told.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Expert Ties Ex-Player's Suicide to Brain Damage — Since the former National Football League player Andre Waters killed himself in November, an explanation for his suicide has remained a mystery. But after examining remains of Mr. Waters's brain, a neuropathologist in Pittsburgh is claiming …
Jeff Horrgan / Boston Herald:
Sox dealing with Pena, Donnelly — The Red Sox [team stats] have avoided making a single arbitration hearing appearance since Theo Epstein took over as general manager, and it does not appear that the club will be attending one anytime soon. — The Sox and their two arbitration-eligible players …
Discussion:
SawxBlog
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Guillen's extension is still in the works — The Tigers want to sign Carlos Guillen to a contract extension, and he wants to stay. On Wednesday, though, assistant general manager Al Avila said there was no progress to report on a new contract for the starting shortstop.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers sign pitcher Tsao, a former Rockies prospect — The Dodgers have reached an agreement with pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao, the top prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization before injuries derailed his progress. — A contract is contingent on Tsao passing a physical once he obtains …
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