Top News:
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 …
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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 …
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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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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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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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.
Discussion:
Pending Pinstripes
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox GM prepares to enter lions' den — Erstad signing may take some of the heat off Ken Williams — General manager Ken Williams will bring much welcomed relief to douse the verbal flames directed at him Friday when sold-out SoxFest opens. — That break will come from Darin Erstad …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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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.
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 …
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.
Richard / SportsJustice:
If you don't like Adam Everett, you don't understand baseball. — Audio: Richard Justice on the value of Adam Everett — • • • — I loved Tim Purpura's original blueprint for 2007. It included three defensive cornerstones: Brad Ausmus, Adam Everett and Willy Taveras.
Discussion:
Babes That Love Baseball
