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 …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Report: Yankees out of Santana race — Senior VP Steinbrenner voices reluctance to trade prospects — NEW YORK — After months of debating the idea of Johan Santana in pinstripes, the Yankees may finally be ready to abandon their pursuit of the ace. — New York has removed …
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.”
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Hot Stove: A's unlikely to trade Blanton — Right-hander expected to start 2008 season as Oakland's ace — Deals that would send veterans Scott Rolen, Mark Kotsay and Troy Glaus to new teams were all but finalized, though official word was still pending early Monday afternoon.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Will Braves keep up in East? — Atlanta beat reporter Mark Bowman answers fans' questions — What National League East team do you think will pose the biggest threat for the Braves this year? — This once again appears to be a three-horse race, with the Mets only currently …
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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.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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 …