Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Erstad could still return to Angels — Free agent Darin Erstad still could return to the Angels as a backup first baseman and outfielder, but the Marlins and White Sox are offering him greater playing time, according to his agent, Greg Genske. — The Cubs, who remain interested in Erstad …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
It's official: Yanks to host '08 All-Star game — After three years of discussion and planning, the Yankees, Major League Baseball and New York City are ready to formalize one of the area's worst-kept secrets. — At a news conference a week from Tuesday, two people familiar …
Carmelo, Iverson Finally Able To Pretend …:
In Case You Had Any Doubt, MLB Doesn't Care About You At All — We are not against corporations, inherently; we spend most of our days enjoying products of the Coca-Cola Company and the Philip Morris Corporation, and if they do an excellent job mass-producing consumables that we keep on buying, hey, that's the American way.
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers, Rudy Seanez agree to terms — Right-hander Rudy Seanez and the Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract that could pay the veteran relief pitcher $1.2 million if he meets performance incentives. — Seanez, a 15-year veteran who split last season with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
MLB.com:
Athletics agree to terms with Justin Duchscherer — A's pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16 — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics announced Monday the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Justin Duchscherer on one-year contract for the 2007 season, avoiding arbitration.
Discussion:
Athletic Supporters
Kevin Kennedy / Fox Sports:
Rejuvenated Sosa poised for comeback — He's hit 588 career home runs. Only Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays have more. He's also driven in nearly 1,600 runs and has a respectable career batting average of .274. — On top of that, he's the only player in baseball history …
Phil Rogers / ESPN:
Twins' mastermind has enviable track record — On June 11, the Minnesota Twins were off. Francisco Liriano had blanked Baltimore the day before, and the Boston Red Sox, as fearsome as any team in the majors at that time, were due the next day for a three-game series.
Discussion:
D-Town Baseball
Associated Press:
Lawrence signs with Rockies — Former Padres pitcher agrees to one-year contract — DENVER (AP) — Right-hander Brian Lawrence, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies that guarantees him $750,000.
RELATED:
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Agent: Rockies agree to deal with Lawrence
Agent: Rockies agree to deal with Lawrence
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Peter Zellen / MLB.com:
Mets host blood drive at Shea — Club draws hundreds to event held at Diamond Club — NEW YORK — The Diamond Club at Shea Stadium looked like a hospital emergency ward on Monday, with nurses scrambling around attending to the constant flow of patients filling two dozen gurneys.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
McPherson opts for back surgery — Procedure to remove disk will likely sideline infielder 6 months — Dallas McPherson will have surgery Tuesday to repair a lower-back condition that has not improved through rehab. — The power-hitting third baseman will undergo a procedure to remove …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Bill Conlin / timesleader.com:
Philadelphia Phillies — FIRST, I WANT to thank Pat Burrell's left wrist for setting up this interview with the left hemisphere of his brain. — Hi, and thanks for giving me some time on this important NFL Sunday. Should I call you Pat? Half-Pat? Half-Brain?
Associated Press:
Twins sign RHP Ortiz for $3.1M — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Ramon Ortiz and the Minnesota Twins agreed Monday to a $3.1 million, one-year contract. — Ortiz went 11-16 with a 5.57 ERA with 64 walks and 104 strikeouts in 190 2-3 innings over 33 starts last season for the Washington Nationals.
Piratereport / Pittsburgh Pirates Roundtable:
Question #1 — The Pittsburgh Pirates recently experienced a shift in power amongst its ownership group. What changes does Bob Nutting, the new face of the team, have to make in order to field a competitive ballclub in Pittsburgh? Should Pirate fans anticipate the emergence of a successful team in the near future?
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
J.P. McIntyre / Hardball Times:
The Good, the Bad, and the Cheap: The Cost Efficiency of 162 Starts — In today's game, teams break Spring Training camp with 162 games ahead of them and plan for a five-man rotation to cover all the starts in those games. Of course, teams know there will be injuries, trades …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Will Clement, Beckett rebound? — Red Sox beat reporter Ian Browne answers fans' questions — Where is Matt Clement? How is he progressing from his right shoulder surgery? Should we have any expectations? — Clement, from what I can gather, is at his Pennsylvania home rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Discussion:
Over the Monster