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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Blue Jays, Ohka agree on one-year deal — The Blue Jays, adding another piece to their starting rotation, have reached preliminary agreement with free-agent right-hander Tomo Ohka on a one-year contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The size of the contract was not immediately known …
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MY BASEBALL BIAS, Batter's Box Interactive …, Brew Crew Ball, Bucs Dugout and Bluebird Banter
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Ohka out of Pirates' plan, but Armas in — Team talking with former Nationals pitcher — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — As the field of right-handed starters in free agency keeps dwindling for the Pirates — their talks with Tomo Ohka suddenly broke off yesterday …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Ohka moving to AL with Blue Jays … Free agent pitcher Tomo Ohka reached preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, his agent said Tuesday. — The agreement is conditional on Ohka passing a physical exam, which will take place later this week once arrangements …
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Lone Star Ball
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
For Nats Outfielder Logan, a Familiar Position — Here is Manny Acta, manager of the Washington Nationals, on how much competition Nook Logan, who has 545 major league at-bats, will face for the starting center field job when spring training opens next month: "He's going to spring training as our center fielder.
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MLB.com, Capitol Punishment, District of Baseball, William F. Yurasko, Ben Maller's Sports … and The Griddle
Nick Cafardo / Extra Bases:
Ohka signs with Jays — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed former Red Sox right-hander Tomo Ohka to a one-year deal with incentives. While contract details were not yet available, Ohka made the choice over Washington and Pittsburgh. — The deal, confirmed by Ohka's agent, Jim Masteralexis …
Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
CANO'S NO. 22 TO ROG - IF ... The Yankees are preparing for Roger Clemens - at least, numerically speaking. — Recently, the club asked All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano to hand over his No. 22 in the event of another Rocket launch in The Bronx, The Post confirmed yesterday.
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ESPN:
Cano agrees to switch to No. 24 from No. 22 — If Roger Clemens pitches in The Pinstripes again next season, the Yankees are ready for his return. — The Yankees asked second baseman Robinson Cano to give up his No. 22 if Clemens returns to the Bronx and Cano agreed to switch to No. 24.
Associated Press:
A's swap Saarloos for Shafer — CINCINNATI — The Oakland Athletics traded pitcher Kirk Saarloos to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for minor-league reliever David Shafer. — Each team also received a player to be named. — The 27-year-old Saarloos went 7-7 with two saves and a 4.75 ERA last season for the AL West champions.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Podsednik out six weeks after surgery — Erstad expected to join club's outfield picture — CHICAGO — The White Sox outfield just might feature a very different look at the start of the 2007 season. — Scott Podsednik, the team's left fielder and leadoff hitter brought back during …
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
With Two Deals Stalled, Joke Never Gets Started — You would think that when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, it would have liberated their fans, enabled all of them to smile and laugh. — For whatever reason, however, some segment of that fan base doesn't recognize a joke when it encounters one …
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Bryan Smith / Sports Illustrated:
2007 Top prospects: Nos. 15-1 (cont.) — 8. Cameron Maybin, 20, CF, Detroit Tigers — 2006 Stats (A-): .304/.387/.457, 27 SB in 385 AB — Maybin lived up to all the hype in his first pro season. He might not be the second coming of Ken Griffey Jr., but Maybin has a generational five-tool set.
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Mark Hale / New York Post:
WILLIE, METS TALK PACT — SIDES SAY NO RUSH — Omar Minaya said last night the Mets want to sign Willie Randolph to a new contract before spring training. — The GM and manager didn't put a deadline on discussions, however, with Minaya saying he would be fine if talks extended into camp …
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Associated Press:
Delgado: 'My child comes first' — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — New York Mets star Carlos Delgado could miss a few games at the start of the regular season for the birth of his child. — The first baseman said his wife was due to give birth to the couple's first child within a few days of the Mets' April 1 opener at St. Louis.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano shooting for the moon — Pitcher may play out season unless he gets Zito-like pact — If the opening round of talks between the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano's agents are any indication, negotiations can be summed up in two simple words: — "Where's mine?"
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GROTA
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Boston Globe:
Playing the field at Fenway — Friendly Fenway will be full of cameras this summer, and we're not just talking about the jam of Japanese media that'll capture every curve thrown by Daisuke Matsuzaka. The producers of "Queer Eye" are teaming with NESN to create a reality TV show called "Sox Appeal."
Bryan Smith / Baseball Analysts:
The 2007 WTNY Prospect List — There is no greater season for a prospect evaluator than the winter, as we finally bear down, combine all the evidence and take our stances. For the fourth winter in a row, I have compiled a list of the minor league's 75 best talents — Major League Baseball's future stars.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Monfort: O'Dowd, Hurdle fates not linked — Rockies owner Charlie Monfort wants - at minimum - a .500 record this season. It has long been assumed that if the Rockies don't post a winning season, general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle could lose their jobs.
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Purple Row