Top News:
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Add Theriot to Cubs' mix in center field — Lou Piniella has spent the week getting to know Chicago's icy weather up close and personal, meeting some of his new Cubs players and doing a little house hunting. Too bad the Cubs Convention opened Friday with the new manager feeling as if there is one piece of unfinished business.
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Piniella considering Soriano in center — Manager 'intrigued' by idea of star manning middle of outfield — CHICAGO — New Cubs manager Lou Piniella may have found the solution for center field at the Cubs Convention. What about Alfonso Soriano in center?
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Talk timing key for 'Z' — All-Star pitcher Carlos Zambrano — sporting a new curly hairdo — was one of the main attractions Friday as the weekend Cubs Convention kicked off downtown. Zambrano's first order of business: Setting a deadline on reaching a multiyear contract with the Cubs.
Bruce Miles / Daily Herald:
Zambrano trying to get 'business' taken care of — It's a seller's market for the rare pitcher of Carlos Zambrano's ability, and the Cubs ace knows it. — Zambrano received some of the loudest cheers Friday evening during the opening ceremonies of the Cubs convention. — He'll also be receiving bigger paychecks.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Littlefield seeks bench bat — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield sounded satisfied at acquiring Adam LaRoche, but not quite finished for the offseason. — "We liked Adam," Littlefield said.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Thorman solo at first base; Gonzalez 'pumped up' — After the Braves announced Friday the trade of first baseman Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh for flamethrowing left-hander Mike Gonzalez, a few noteworthy statements came out of the news conference with general manager John Schuerholz and a phone call to Gonzalez:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Blast from the past — Here's a curious case for all sides of the steroid debate, for the amateur lawyers who have bastardized the concept of innocent until proven guilty, the hard-liners who view performance-enhancing drugs as Satan's elixir and the majority that cares not to blacken or whiten a gray issue.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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MLB.com:
Sosa's return a mixed bag — Slugger rekindles fond memories of '98, and suspicion — The potential reappearance of Sammy Sosa does not at first glance remind you of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines. — "I shall return," MacArthur vowed in a moment of bitter defeat.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros ink Moehler to Minor League deal — Veteran right-hander will compete for a spot in Spring Training — HOUSTON — The Astros announced on Friday that they signed right-hander Brian Moehler to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
McPherson expected to miss most of year — A lower-back injury that limited Dallas McPherson to 61 games in 2005 and 40 games in 2006 probably will sideline the Angels infielder for most, if not all, of the 2007 season. — McPherson all but conceded Friday night that he would need surgery …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
A few twists for Angels at first — Kotchman is healthy, Morales needs a knee examination and McPherson's back is once again a sore subject. — The news was mixed on the Angels' first base front today. For Casey Kotchman, it was very good. For Dallas McPherson, it was bad.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Graffanino settles for one-year deal — Veteran infielder avoids salary arbitration — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — The Milwaukee Brewers' on-and-off courtship of Tony Graffanino culminated Friday when the veteran infielder agreed to a one-year deal for $3.25 million, avoiding salary arbitration.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Extra Innings Package and 24-Hour Channel Headed Exclusively to DirecTV — Major League Baseball is close to announcing a deal that will place its Extra Innings package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV, which will also become the only carrier of a long-planned 24-hour baseball channel.
