Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Seattle close to deal for Weaver — Rather than return to the World Series champions, free-agent righthander Jeff Weaver was poised Thursday night to accept a deal with the Seattle Mariners and land with his third West Coast team in as many seasons. — Terms of Weaver's pending deal remain unknown …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner, Lookout Landing, Viva El Birdos, MLB Trade Rumors and Ben Maller's Sports …
RELATED:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates likely left out of Weaver mix — Free-agent pitcher looks set to sign with Seattle — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Scratch Jeff Weaver, too? — The Pirates' ongoing pursuit of a right-handed starter appears to have produced another swing and miss …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Lefty Rhodes winds his way back to Mariners — Hoping to bolster starting pitching, Seattle also pursuing Weaver, Redman — The Mariners reached into their past Thursday by signing veteran left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes. At the same time, the club was trying to close in on a deal with right-handed starter Jeff Weaver.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Drew, Red Sox finally connect — He'll officially sign deal today — After finally acquiring contract relief in case J.D. Drew's troublesome right shoulder causes him to miss significant time, the Red Sox are expected to make official the signing of a five-year, $70 million deal today …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Baseball Musings and The Soxaholix
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Deal is done, but job isn't — For Willie, ring's thing — Despite getting the job security that comes with a new three-year contract, Willie Randolph knows he still has work to do with the Mets. — "I've tapped into our team and they've tapped somewhat into me," Randolph said yesterday …
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:Happy ending — Randolph endured years of disappointment before finding his niche
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets sign Sele to deliver — The Mets added another pitcher to their spring-training rotation competition, announcing the signing of righthander Aaron Sele to a minor-league contract. Sele, 36, went 8-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 28 appearances (15 starts) for the Dodgers in 2006.
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NY Daily News:
The good News man — Lang loved making the Hall's call — There will be an empty chair on the dais at the Baseball Writers' Association of America's annual dinner Sunday at the New York Hilton, a tribute to our intrepid leader, Jack Lang, who died at 85 of liver disease yesterday morning …
RELATED:
Richard / SportsJustice:If you don't like Adam Everett, you don't understand baseball.
Discussion:
Babes That Love Baseball
George King / New York Post:
A NEW CARL — RECOVERING PAVANO SET TO TAKE THE HILL — You have heard this before. Now, get ready to arch your eyebrows again. Carl Pavano will throw a bullpen session today in Phoenix. — After spending the winter in Phoenix working out with fitness guru Brett Fischer to reinvent …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Seeking Edge in China, Yankees Put Baseball First — The Yankees consider themselves the most driven team in a competitive sport, so their push to boost baseball in China is not purely altruistic. They believe there is talent to be cultivated in China, and when future prospects have a choice …
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins' Gonzalez is duty bound — For Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, civic duty comes before baseball duty. — Instead of preparing for spring training, Gonzalez has spent the past three weeks of his off-season in a Cobb County, Ga., courtroom as a juror in a civil trial …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
An Embarrassment Of Pitches — This week, Ted Lerner said he thought this winter's expensive free agent signings "could take baseball out of control." His son Mark finds the current payroll explosion "shocking." They're both correct. But they should realize two things.
Keith Law / ESPN:
Yankees' farm system packed with punch … The Yankees have long had the game's biggest payroll, but their farm system has lain fallow for several years, the result of some uninspired draft picks and trades that rid the system of the few prospects who remained.
Mark Kiszla / Denver Post:
Helton, Rockies could do the splits — If Todd Helton would only take his creaky body, broken bat and $16.6 million salary and leave town, maybe the meatheads who own the Rockies could afford to buy a clue. — But don't count on it. — In their relentless pursuit of mediocrity …
Jesse Noyes / Boston Herald:
Capitol idea: Senator Schilling? Curt's not so sure, but fans think he's just the ticket — Curt Schilling seemed surprised yesterday by the sudden groundswell of local supporters hoping to draft him into national politics and a 2008 Senate run against John Kerry.
