Top News:
Associated Press:
Nats agree to minor league deal with Young — VIERA, Fla. — Former All-Star Dmitri Young agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, getting another chance after the Detroit Tigers cut him last year following legal and substance-abuse problems.
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Washington Post:
Young, Batista Will Get a Look — On the day before their pitchers and catchers held their first workout, the Washington Nationals added two more low-risk bargains to the fold, signing one-time sluggers Dmitri Young and Tony Batista to minor league contracts.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Washington Times, Free Lance-Star, Nats320, William World News, The Daily Fungo and Nats Triple Play
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Aaron wants to start over — Not happy with pen role — PORT ST. LUCIE - Yes, Aaron Heilman asked again. No, he's not going to get a look as a starting pitcher this spring. — "I haven't given up," Heilman said yesterday, a day after arriving from his home in Chicago.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
David ready to spring ahead — PORT ST. LUCIE - David Wright has been here for a week. Now it's time for his teammates to join him. — Pitchers and catchers report to the Mets' spring-training complex today, with position players due to report Monday. The first official workout for pitchers and catchers is two days away.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Spring's 10 burning questions — With pitchers and catchers officially reporting Thursday, all we have are questions without definitive answers. — It's always fun to take a gander, though, so here are 10 of the biggest issues entering this season and our best ripostes. — Sure.
Associated Press:
Rivera says he'll consider offers from other teams — TAMPA, Fla. — Mariano Rivera had this warning for the New York Yankees: If he becomes a free agent, he'll consider offers from other teams. — "Everybody has the same shot," he said Wednesday. "The Yankees will not have an advantage."
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets' Wright stays grounded — Despite increasing off-field distractions, Wright says his primary focus is baseball — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — David Wright was thrilled this winter when he was selected as the cover athlete for MLB 07: The Show, an honor previously held by Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.
Sports Illustrated:
Benitez feels healthier than previous two springs — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Armando Benitez expects nothing less than to be San Francisco's closer this season - as long as he's healthy. — The Giants want to evaluate him this spring before handing him back his old job.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Giants expect Bonds in camp next week — Slugger has yet to sign contract after rejected clause deleted — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Though Barry Bonds' contract situation still appears to be tangled, it could be heading toward some sort of resolution. — Giants general manager Brian Sabean told …
George King / New York Post:
RIVERA AWAITING GM'S PITCH — Mariano Rivera a Red Sox? It could happen. — Sitting in his car outside Legends Field yesterday, Rivera was asked by The Post if he could be Boston's closer next year. — "You never know," said Rivera, who is determined to become a free agent …
Discussion:
NY Daily News
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:Scrub pitcher moves into Bernie's locker
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Cory Humes / Pittsburgh Lumber Co.:
Pittsburgh Pirates Roundtable #15 — On Monday, you read what our regulars had to say. Now, you get to hear from the enemy: Enjoy the contrasting opinions that these big timers provide, and feel free to rip each other apart in the comments. Nothing like a good division rivalry, eh? — Question:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Determined Vargas Vies for Mets' Rotation — Five-year-old Jason Vargas scampered around the batting cage, helping some of the Victor Valley High players retrieve balls, when he reached a milestone in his development. Vargas did not notice a pitch hurtling toward the plate when he trotted out to grab a stray ball.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Notes: Kotchman ready to regain job — First baseman healthy after missing most of 2006 season — TEMPE, Ariz. — Casey Kotchman was possibly the happiest player in Angels camp Wednesday. — After a year of frustration in which a stubborn bout with mononucleosis caused …
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Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Cabrera doesn't want to ruin image with fans … MIAMI — Although he is still young, Miguel Cabrera understands that baseball is not only a sport but also a business. However, the Venezuelan wouldn't want the business part to influence the image that fans have of him.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Steve Silva / Extra Bases:
DiNardo to A's — Cross Lenny DiNardo off your list of potential Red Sox closers for 2007 because he's headed for Oakland. The A's claimed DiNardo off waivers today. — The Red Sox announced that right fielder J.D. Drew, who signed a $70 million deal with Boston as a free agent on January 26 …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Japanese pitcher steals spotlight — Followed by large media contingent, Kuwata aims high with Pirates — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — On this, the day the Pirates' pitchers and catchers report for work in Bradenton, Fla., no fewer than a dozen cameras …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Wrigley to feature Under Armour ads — Signs will be first allowed on stadium's outfield doors — MESA, Ariz. — The green doors tucked into the ivy in the left- and right-field bleachers of Wrigley Field will be decorated with 7-by-12 foot advertisements, touting Under Armour's signature logo.
