Top News:
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 …
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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 …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Batter's Box Interactive …, Bluebird Banter and Bucs Dugout
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Podsednik out six weeks after surgery — Erstad adds veteran presence; deal pending physical — CHICAGO — Darin Erstad seemed to be a near-perfect fit for the current White Sox roster even before Tuesday's twists and turns amongst the team's starting outfield.
Discussion:
Black Sox Blog
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Posada: Williams Is Hoping to Play — There is no spot on the Yankees' roster for Bernie Williams, who is uncomfortable as a free agent after 16 seasons in New York. Williams does not want to retire, yet he does not want to leave the Yankees. — Jorge Posada, who received an award …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:What to do with Bernie? — Bernie Williams' possessions still occupy …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
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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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds acquire Saarloos, sign Bellhorn — Cincinnati bolsters pitching corps, adds veteran infielder — CINCINNATI — Add one more name to the list of candidates for the Reds' fifth starter spot. — Cincinnati acquired right-hander Kirk Saarloos in a trade with the Athletics on Tuesday for Minor League reliever David Shafer.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Perlozzo offers thoughts on baseball's economics … WASHINGTON // Washington Nationals owner Theodore Lerner wants to curb spending on player salaries, New York Yankees President Randy Levine wants to limit his team's luxury tax payments, while Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Associated Press:
Reid denies McNabb unhappy with Eagles — 'People are making a lot of things up here that aren't true,' coach says — PHILADELPHIA - Less than a week after he canceled Donovan McNabb's news conference, coach Andy Reid dismissed reports that his star quarterback is unhappy with the organization.
Discussion:
The700Level.com
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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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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Four teams that could surprise in '07 — To start with, some parameters. — A team can't qualify as a surprise if it won 87 games last season (the Blue Jays), if it contended as recently as 2005 (the Indians) or if it spent $300 million this off-season (the Cubs).
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Sheldon Ocker / Akron Beacon Journal:
Wedge has plan for Tribe — Platoons in left, right; Garko must earn spot — CLEVELAND - Not surprisingly, manager Eric Wedge has a plan for the Indians. — You probably knew that already. — Part of Wedge's (and General Manager Mark Shapiro's) grand design involves using five outfielders …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards hope to learn Weaver's fate this week — The Cardinals probably will learn this week whether their two-year offer to free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver is enough to keep the righthander in their starting rotation three months after he became a cog in their World Series championship push.
Sports Illustrated:
MLB's brushback pitch — Deal with DirecTV could leave most fans out in cold — The last place that any baseball fan ever wants to be is between team owners and a dollar bill. It's like stepping between Pete Rose and Ray Fosse, circa 1970. Or between Jose Canseco and his syringe sometime in the '90s.
