Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Samardzija going to focus on Cubs career — Cubs prospect Jeff Samardzija, a record-breaking receiver at Notre Dame, is giving up football for baseball, FOXSports.com has learned. — Samardzija, a right-handed pitcher, was the Cubs' fifth-round pick last summer and projected as a first-round pick in the NFL draft.
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ESPN:
Cubs sign Samardzija to five-year, $8 million deal — Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to forego a pro football career for that of a baseball pitcher — and he'll be well compensated for it. — Samardzija signed a five-year deal Friday to play baseball full-time, starting in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system.
Discussion:
The FanHouse - NFL
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Notre Damer picks Cubs over football — Jeff Samardzija's dreams of becoming the next Bo Jackson are over. — The Cubs announced Friday that the pitcher will forgo an NFL career to sign a five-year deal to play baseball full-time, beginning in the team's minor league system.
Baseball America:
Samardzija's Bonus Won't Set Record — Jeff Samardzija didn't receive a record bonus, after all. But as he nears the time when he may have to pick between baseball and football, he might get his big payday just the same. — Baseball America reported last June that Samardzija had agreed …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Associated Press:
Samardzija picks Cubs over football — Notre Dame receiver signs 5-year contract, might still pursue NFL career — CHICAGO - Jeff Samardzija decided to give up football and stay with baseball. — The former Notre Dame receiver, projected as a first-round pick in the NFL draft this April …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Yahoo! Sports:
Samardzija passes up NFL to sign with Cubs — CHICAGO (Ticker) - Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija will take his talents to the baseball diamond rather than the football field. — Opting to pass up a chance at the NFL, Samardzija on Friday signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
ESPN:
Indians agree with Nixon for one year, $3 million … Free-agent outfielder Trot Nixon has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cleveland Indians, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports. — Nixon, who has spent his entire pro baseball career with the Boston Red Sox organization …
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Paul Hoynes / PD Sports:
Indians sign Trot Nixon — Plain Dealer Reporter — The Indians have signed former Boston outfielder Trot Nixon to a one-year, $3 million contract. Nixon, bothered by a right biceps injury in the second half of last season, passed his physical in Cleveland on Thursday.
Discussion:
Tribe Report
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Uneasy at First, Mets Embrace Their New Orleans Connection — A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat covered in rhinestones walked down Bourbon Street on Wednesday night and spotted a character with equally outrageous headgear. — "Hey there," the woman shouted. "Who are you?"
Bill Simmons / ESPN:
When did hate take over sports? — After one of the greatest victories in Patriots history, after one of the defining Sundays of the Belichick-Brady Era, after an absolute roller-coaster ride of a win, after one of the more memorable they-had-absolutely-no-business- winning-that-thing games in recent memory …
Andrew Bagnato / Associated Press:
Mitchell warns government could become involved in steroids probe — PHOENIX (AP) — Baseball owners heard a clear warning from former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on Thursday. — Mitchell, who is investigating steroid use in the sport, said the chances of government involvement will …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Spending time with Yankees — If you're planning to catch them against Rockies, dig deep — The Rockies-Yankees midweek series occurs in June, long before pennant races crystallize, contending teams feel an urgency to win and scoreboard watching becomes an earnest pursuit.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Andruw wants to finish career in Atlanta — Gold Glove center fielder can be free agent after 2007 season — ATLANTA — If he were simply fueled by financial greed, Andruw Jones would have spent much of this past offseason salivating. With every passing day, it seemed a different …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Trade nearly done after Gonzalez passes physical — Pirates expected to officially acquire LaRoche today — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Mike Gonzalez, the reliever the Pirates have agreed to send to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for first baseman Adam LaRoche, passed his physical yesterday.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Young Talent Redux: The Tigers — In a previous unfiltered post related to the Cleveland Top 10, I polled a number of people in the prospect ranking game (writers, scouts, front office types) to valuate the futures of a quartet of young Indians. The Tigers presented a similar quandary.
Steven R. Strahler / Chicago Business:
Lukewarm Tribune bids encourage Cubs suitors — (Crain's) — Tribune Co.'s inability to attract aggressive buyout offers has encouraged Chicagoans who are interested in snapping up one piece of the media conglomerate: the Chicago Cubs. — "I think they've got to go plan B …
Lindsey Frazier / MLB.com:
Davis, D-backs agree to new deal — Southpaw avoids arbitration with three-year contract — PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks and southpaw Doug Davis agreed to a three-year deal on Thursday night, avoiding arbitration. — Davis, along with pitcher Dana Eveland and outfielder Dave Krynzel …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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