Top News:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Zambrano, Cubs deftly avoid arbitration — Just before hearing, parties ink one-year, $12 million deal — MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs and Carlos Zambrano reached agreement Tuesday on a one-year, $12 million contract and avoided arbitration. — The Cubs had hoped to settle before a 2 p.m. MST hearing at the Phoenix Hyatt.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano, Cubs agree on 1-year deal — $12.4 million, no arbitration, but long-term deal looks iffy — MESA, Ariz. — Part I of the Carlos Zambrano saga ended Tuesday when he agreed to a one-year, $12.4 million deal, avoiding an arbitration hearing only minutes before it was to begin.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Zambrano, Cubs avoid arbitration — The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Carlos Zambrano settled their arbitration case Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year, $12.4 million contract and avoiding a potentially divisive hearing. — Zambrano had requested $15.5 million in arbitration. The Cubs were offering $11.025 million.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
NY Daily News:
Score it an error on — Derek for big chill — TAMPA - Forced to respond to Alex Rodriguez's portrait of a faded friendship, Derek Jeter sat in the same dugout a day later and had something to get off his chest. — Really? He was finally going to roll down the tinted windows that guard …
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Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Owners will wait and see on Schill — FORT MYERS - Curt Schilling [stats] said he plans to file for free agency after the season if he doesn't receive a contract extension before the end of spring training but it appears the Red Sox [team stats] are not in a hurry to give him one.
Discussion:
Talksox
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Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
New look, new hopes: Crisp eyes turnaround — FORT MYERS - Several Red Sox [team stats] players stopped to get a closer look at the player with the mini-fro hairstyle who arrived yesterday morning and immediately buried his head in a locker to sort out equipment.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Todd Zolecki / Mercury News:
Jimmy Rollins reiterates: Phillies will win NL East — CLEARWATER, Fla. - He said it. He meant it. — So Jimmy Rollins repeated his proclamation, saying Tuesday that the Phillies - a team that hasn't made the postseason since 1993 - is the team to beat in the National League East.
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
'I had a mental breakdown' — Logan's rapid rise led to rocky start to big-league career — TUCSON, Ariz. — Boone Logan's big-league season was spiraling downward even before he stepped on the mound last May 16 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. — The loud thud heard over the next 1 2/3 innings …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Baker transforms himself into ultimate utility player — TUCSON - Jeff Baker was a concern for the Rockies last year. He was headed into the final year of a four-year, major league contract he signed with them when he came out of Clemson. The first three seasons had created more questions than answers.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Boone completes trip around the horn — JUPITER — The last time infielder Aaron Boone played first base, he was in the minor leagues. That was more than 10 years ago. — On Tuesday, Boone started his 11th major-league season by going back to school for a first-base refresher.
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Top 10 Spring Training position battles — Pitchers and catchers have arrived in Arizona and Florida, position players are filtering in, and before you know it Cactus and Grapefruit League play will begin. — That means it's time to start thinking about spring training implications.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Padilla Says He Still Has Something Up His Sleeve — As Juan Padilla closed his eyes and turned away, Jorge Sosa showed a crowd of onlookers his card — the two of diamonds — before he shoved it into the bottom of the deck. Padilla shuffled the cards with a little too much force, and most of them crashed to the ground.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
If at First He Doesn't Succeed . . . Nats' Broadway Knows He May Not Get Another Chance Like This One — The kids behind the chain-link fence squealed early Tuesday afternoon as the object of their affection approached: "He's right there! He's right there!"
Associated Press:
MLB's synthetic caps designed to wick away sweat — BUFFALO, N.Y. — One question facing baseball this season: Will cooler heads prevail? — On Opening Day, the sport will doff the traditional wool cap in favor of a new polyester blend model designed to wick away sweat before it can stream down a player's face.
Discussion:
Mets Heads
Charlie Nobles / MLB.com:
Alou intent on returning to playoffs — At 40 years old, veteran outfielder not ready for retirement — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — As the Giants' 2006 season was winding down, Moises Alou began thinking seriously that it would be his final year as a Major Leaguer.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Green tries to adjust — PORT ST. LUCIE - Shawn Green believes he's found the source of his power drain. The right fielder, who hit a combined 30 homers during the past two seasons, less than a third of the 91 he totaled in 2001 and '02, said he detected - and corrected - a glitch in his swing.
Ken Davidoff / AM New York:
Defiant Barry's back — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — His sixth swing of the day, of the year, produced a massive shot, a home run well over Scottsdale Stadium's wall in right-centerfield. It might as well have been 2001 again. — With that, Barry Bonds exited the batting cage …
