Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Rockies talking to Red Sox about trading Helton … The Colorado Rockies are in high-level talks to trade first baseman Todd Helton to the Boston Red Sox in a deal that could send third baseman Mike Lowell and right-handed reliever Julian Tavarez to Colorado.
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Denver Post:
Helton seeks quick deal — Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said Saturday he would consider approving a trade to the Boston Red Sox, but wants a quick resolution to avoid a stream of distractions. — Helton was asked Saturday night whether he has provided the Rockies a deadline or …
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Helton trade up in the air — Todd Helton's future with the Rockies is in limbo. — The Rockies and Boston Red Sox have been discussing trade possibilities involving Helton since November, as reported originally by the Rocky, but have struggled to look for a fit since …
Associated Press:
Ex-Mets GM Devine dies at 90 — ST. LOUIS - Bing Devine, who helped lay the groundwork for the Mets' 1969 World Series victory, died yesterday, He was 90. — Devine, who was the assistant to team president George Weiss in 1965-66 and was the team president/general manager in 1967 …
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Tom Wheatley / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bing Devine: 1916-2007 — Vaughn Pallmore "Bing'' Devine was a collector's item among sports executives. — Not because his career spanned almost 70 years, most with his beloved Cardinals, from his start as an office boy in 1939 to his death Saturday (Jan. 27, 2007) at age 90, still employed as the team's special assignment scout.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Who's sorry now? Williams — White Sox GM says he has been too blunt, apologizes to Buehrle — Ken Williams admits he has a problem because he is too blunt. — The White Sox general manager apologized Saturday to Mark Buehrle and Buehrle's parents during a 30-minute conversation …
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
GM Williams clarifies Buehrle situation — Talk of southpaw's departure from White Sox premature — CHICAGO — It took three questions into the Town Hall Meeting during Saturday's second day of SoxFest for the topic of the Mark Buehrle-Ken Williams contract extension discussion to be revisited.
Jason Williams / TwinCities.com:
A BUSY JOE — Joe Mauer isn't a big thing only in St. Paul anymore. The home-grown star talks about his rising fame and his game. — The hometown hero was undecided late Saturday afternoon about whether he would attend that night's concert at Xcel Energy Center.
NY Daily News:
Spring forward — Willie gets early start as Bernie ponders the end — With pitchers and catchers barely two weeks away, some thoughts and observations on Willie Randolph, who will be arriving early to spring training to begin sorting out his pitching, and Bernie Williams, who, it appears, may not be arriving at all.
Kansas City Star:
The Royals caravan runs on fans' hope — This is the third year of the Royals caravan column, which means by baseball standards this thing is now a full-fledged tradition. Three years is a long time with the Royals. Heck, Tony Peña didn't last three years.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Kazmir insists shoulder is fine … ST. PETERSBURG - If your biggest concern about the upcoming season is the state of Scott Kazmir's left shoulder, the just-turned 23-year-old ace says there is nothing to worry about. — "Not at all," he said. "I don't even see that as a question."
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Stars are on ball at autograph show … In a private room at one end of the 300 level of the Baltimore Convention Center, four Hall of Famers sat at separate tables, signing baseballs, bats, jerseys and helmets that later would be shipped as pre-orders and sold.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Under radar for no good reason — Reds' Harang, others deserve a closer look — Quick now. Who led the National League in complete games last year? — We'll give you a hint. He was the same guy who led the NL in strikeouts. He had six complete games out of 35 starts and went 16-11 with a 3.76 earned-run average.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Super Bowl has nothing on these red-hot topics — Not to demean the NFL, but in baseball Indianapolis is home to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate. Chicago is home to, well, the Cubs. — The Super Bowl TV audience dwarfs even that of American Idol, but so what?
