Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Former Brewers outfielder Jenkins agrees with Phils … The Philadelphia Phillies and free agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins have reached preliminary agreement on a two-year deal believed to be worth about $13 million, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — The agreement includes …
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Lance Allan / Today's TMJ4:
Jenkins To The Phillies — Former Brewer Expected To Land In Philly
Jenkins To The Phillies — Former Brewer Expected To Land In Philly
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres to retain Barrett — DaVanon, Fick also agree to minor league contracts — The Padres yesterday reached agreement with backup catcher Michael Barrett on a one-year contract and agreed to terms on minor league contracts with two players with San Diego connections.
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yanks' Hank keeping door open for Twins' Santana — Hank Steinbrenner said the Yankees are still debating whether to go the extra mile to pull off a trade for Twins ace Johan Santana. (Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill) — In case you thought the Yankees' dalliance with the Twins over ace lefthander Johan Santana had ended, think again.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MetsBlog.com, River Ave. Blues and Bombers Beat
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George King / New York Post:
METS IN LEAD FOR LOHSE? — The Mets' primary competition for free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse has dropped out of the bidding. — According to Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Philadelphia's refusal to go beyond three years for the right-hander ended their pursuit of Lohse, who finished last season in Philly.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs are not done remodeling — Orioles' Roberts still on team's radar — The Cubs still would “like to do a few more things” trade-wise, according to general manager Jim Hendry, and Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts has not been scratched off the trade list just because he was named in the Mitchell report.
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Fukudome unveiled in Chicago — Cubs outfielder introduced Wednesday at Wrigley Field — CHICAGO — Kosuke Fukudome apparently can't wait to show that he belongs in the Major Leagues. — “I've always wanted the challenge to come over here and see how I could do,” the Cubs' new right fielder …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Schilling calls out Clemens in blog — Writes if Rocket is guilty of using steroids, take away Cys — BOSTON — Curt Schilling put his fingers to the keyboard on Wednesday, pounding out a 3,676-word blog entry in which he essentially challenged Roger Clemens to fight for his innocence …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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John Thorn / The Biz of Baseball:
Our Champions — John Thorn is a contributing writer for The Business of Sports Network
Our Champions — John Thorn is a contributing writer for The Business of Sports Network
Discussion:
Knuckle Curve
Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
One players take on the Mitchell Report, Canseco, Clemens …
One players take on the Mitchell Report, Canseco, Clemens …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, I'm Writing Sports, SOX1FAN, Yankees Blog, Deadspin, Red Sox Monster, ShysterBall, Surviving Grady, Steroid Nation, The Soxaholix, Sports Scope, River Ave. Blues, Bats, Babes Love Baseball, Can't Stop The Bleeding, FanHouse, Boston Globe, SOX & Dawgs, Boston Sports Media Watch and Boston Globe
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Tigers, Willis agree on 3-year extension … Pitcher Dontrelle Willis has reached an agreement in principle on a three-year, $29 million contract extension with the Detroit Tigers, a source told ESPN.com. — The deal includes incentives that could push the total value to more than $30 million, the source said.
ESPN.com:
Papelbon's dog reportedly eats World Series ball — The baseball from the final out of the 2007 World Series is at Jonathan Papelbon's home in Hattiesburg, Md., according to the Hattiesburg American. — Well, part of it is. — The rest? You should ask the Boss. — If he could talk, he might say it was delicious.
Sabernomics:
My Solution to Rid MLB of HGH: Legalize It — Over the past year, I have written several blog posts about the lack of performance-enhancing properties of human growth hormone. I have not participated in any research on the subject, nor am I even remotely qualified to conduct such studies.
Dan Fox / Baseball Prospectus:
The Issue of the Day, and Ranging into the Outfield — “Athletes who are chemically propelled to victory do not merely overvalue winning, they misunderstand why winning is properly valued." — From the day in February when pitchers and catchers reported, all the way through the release …
Discussion:
Dan Agonistes
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Olney On Blanton/Mets — Buster Olney heard that the Mets could acquire starter Joe Blanton from the A's if they'd agree to surrender Carlos Gomez, Aaron Heilman, and Kevin Mulvey. I wonder if Oakland would try Heilman in the rotation. — The A's would probably go with an outfield nucleus …
Discussion:
Blastings! Thrilledge
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Source: Silva, Mariners agree to deal — The Mariners and free agent right-hander Carlos Silva have reached agreement on a multiyear contract, according to an American League source, and the deal could be finalized as early as Thursday, pending the outcome of a physical.
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George King / New York Post:
A-ROD CRONY BOLTS FOR LA — Alex Rodriguez will try to duplicate his scintillating 2007 season without a key member of a very small inner circle. — Mike Borzello, a bullpen catcher for the past 12 seasons and Joe Torre's godson, has left the Yankees and taken a job with the Dodgers as a catching instructor.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Like Lofton — ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Brewers have their eye on free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton. Such a signing would allow them to shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field. How much of a defensive gain would they get from this?
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings