Top News:
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Spending on everyone but Willie — Perhaps if Willie Randolph were still a player, and not the manager who led them to within a victory of the World Series, the Mets would show him a little more respect and a lot more money. — Over the past month …
RELATED:
Mark Hale / New York Post:
METS MAY BE IN ARMS WAY — INNINGS MINOR PROBLEM FOR PELFREY, HUMBER — Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber haven't thrown many minor-league innings, yet they're both candidates for the Mets' starting rotation. It's worth examining how ready they are without many more frames for them in Double-A or Triple-A.
MLB.com:
Chicago native Cliff Floyd agrees to one-year deal with Cubs — The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has agreed to terms with outfielder and first baseman Cliff Floyd on a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2008 season. — Floyd, 34, owns a .279 career batting average …
RELATED:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Floyd, Cubs agree on deal — The Cubs, finally, made it official Wednesday when they signed Chicago area native Cliff Floyd to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2008. — With the signing of the 34-year-old, the Cubs have set up an interesting outfield scenario.
ESPN:
Fan fined $1,000, ordered away from Shea Stadium — A Mets fan who impersonated a reporter last season was fined $1,000 on Tuesday and ordered to stay away from Mets home games for the next three years. — Ryan Leli, 18, was also ordered to stay away from Brooklyn Cyclones games …
RELATED:
Corey Kilgannon / New York Times:
Starstruck Mets Fan Fined for Impersonating Reporter — The twin passions in the life of Ryan Leli intersected last August when the San Diego Padres came to Shea Stadium to play the New York Mets. — Mr. Leli, 18, had worshiped the Mets since age 3 and was a huge fan of Mike Piazza …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Around the Horn: Outfielders — Jenkins seeks comeback season; Brewers to try Hall in outfield … MILWAUKEE — Geoff Jenkins is heading into a contract year, but he's more concerned about making it a statement year. — The Brewers figure to have a knockdown, drag-out Spring Training …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Ashby named new color commentator — Former Blue Jays catcher joins FAN 590 for full season of work — TORONTO — The Blue Jays' offseason additions haven't been limited to the team's roster. On Wednesday, The FAN Radio Network announced a change inside the Toronto's radio booth.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Dan Wetzel / Yahoo! Sports:
MLB TV deal gets fuzzy reception — So here comes Major League Baseball in a quick, shortsighted money grab (again), selling out its core fans (again) and telling everyone (again) how the sport ought to be consumed. — Here comes MLB, as arrogant and detached as ever, ready to limit its popular …
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays to pad infield depth with Pena … ST. PETERSBURG - Seeking to increase depth with their infield plans unsettled, the Devil Rays are close to signing first baseman Carlos Pena to a minor-league deal. — Under some alignments, the Rays could end up with Ty Wigginton and Greg Norton splitting time at first base.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Frank Robinson to work for ESPN … BRISTOL, CONN. // Former Washington Nationals manager and Orioles legend Frank Robinson will be a special analyst for ESPN as it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking of baseball's color barrier. — Frank Robinson …
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / msgnetwork.com:
Memorable statistics — Ten statistical facts I had mostly forgotten from last season that I think are worth remembering as we move closer to another spring training: — 1. Chad Bradford gave up just one homer in 62 innings - No major leaguer pitched as many innings and yielded so few homers last year.
Associated Press:
This old park — Fenway capacity expands after offseason upgrades — BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox will be able to squeeze several hundred more fans into Fenway Park for each game this season thanks to another winter of improvements that allow the team to increase the ballpark's legal capacity.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Dallas Morning News:
What Rangers get from Sosa is anybody's guess — You want my honest opinion on Sammy Sosa? — OK. I've got no clue. — The arguments pro and con Sosa are easy to understand, which makes it all the more difficult to choose which is the right one. — Might he have something left to offer after a year of seclusion?
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
