Top News:
ESPN.com:
Source: Yankees again back away from Santana — For the second time this offseason, the Yankees have pulled their Phil Hughes-centered trade offer for Johan Santana off the table. — The Yankees, then, will not restart trade talks with the Twins unless Hank Steinbrenner has another change of heart …
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Buzz: Mets, Front-Runners for Santana? — In yesterday's Daily News, citing a baseball official, Anthony McCaron wrote that the Mets are pursuing a trade for LHP Johan Santana. — According to the official, “Maybe this week something will heat up. Nothing's going on right now.”
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Option for '09 is key to trade — When the blockbuster exchange of former All-Star third basemen hatched, the Cardinals told Toronto that a vital part of dealing Scott Rolen was the assurance Troy Glaus would exercise his option for the 2009 season. — The other linchpin of the deal is expected today.
Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
Rosenthal: Jays Could Finish Above Yanks — I heard Ken Rosenthal talking about the Toronto Blue Jays today during “Baseball This Morning” on XM Satellite Radio. — Ken said that the Jays “had a chance” but “not a great chance” to “finish above the Yankees in the standings this year.”
NY Daily News:
Podres dead at 75 — Johnny Podres, the cool and clutch lefty who pitched the Dodgers to their one and only world championship in Brooklyn by shutting out the Yankees, 2-0, in the seventh game of the 1955 World Series, died Sunday night in a hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y. He was 75.
Barry Jackson / MiamiHerald.com:
Fins face limits at key positions in free agency — When the Dolphins — armed with more than $25 million in salary-cap space — begin studying free agent options, they will see potential to upgrade at receiver, guard and elsewhere. — But one caution: Not only will many teams have ample cap space …
Phil Rogers / Baseball America:
Chicago White Sox — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers finalize deal with Cameron — Center fielder passes physical to trigger one-year contract — MILWAUKEE — Free agent center fielder Mike Cameron passed a physical on Monday and finalized a one-year contract that, barring injuries in Spring Training, set in place the Brewers' starting offense and defense for 2008.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Who is Opening Day starter? — Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … Who do you think will be the Nationals' Opening Day starter at the new Nationals Park? — That's a good question. I would have to say that Shawn Hill will get the nod because he was the team's best starter last year.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Pete Palmer interview — I hope Pete Palmer needs no introduction. He's been dabbling in sabermetrics virtually his entire adult life, and he made a name for himself with The Hidden Game of Baseball, and the statistic it debuted: linear weights. Since then he's produced …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Will rotation receive any help? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions — I was looking over the list of available free agents, and while there are no Johan Santanas or Josh Becketts out there, I saw some good bargains that conceivably could be signed …
Mike Fast / Statistically Speaking:
A PITCHf/x primer — Many of you are hopefully familiar with the PITCHf/x system and at least some of the data and analysis that have been produced on the subject over the past year, but it may be completely new to some of you. In either case, I thought it would be helpful to provide …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
Associated Press:
Cubans see documentary of El Duque — HAVANA (AP) — Cubans got their first glimpse of Orlando Hernandez on state television since he fled to the United States in 1997. — Authorities aired a documentary Saturday in which the New York Mets pitcher vowed he was no traitor.