Top News:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Pedro pitching for new deal … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - You didn't honestly think he was going to make the trip, did you? — The New York Mets will be in Fort Myers to face the Red Sox [team stats] (again) today, and it is Pedro Martinez' day to pitch. But by the time the Mets take the field …
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Pedro steady in simulated game — PORT ST. LUCIE — Pedro Martinez and the Mets pronounced themselves pleased after his 59-pitch, four-inning simulated game here this afternoon. — Facing Carlos Beltran and three rookie-level minor leaguers on the main diamond at Tradition Field …
Adam Rubin / New York Daily News Blogs:
Peterson: ‘A small step for Pedro, a giant leap for the Mets’ — In keeping (momentarily, at least) with our earlier Seinfeld theme, Rick Peterson is sometimes prone to hyperbole, even if he is a bit of a low-talker. — He just called Pedro Martinez's latest non-game throwing session …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Beckett to miss Red Sox's MLB opener in Japan … FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox haven't broken the news to the good people of Japan yet that Josh Beckett isn't going to be starting Opening Day in Tokyo. — But it's all but official now: Josh Beckett isn't going to be starting Opening Day in Tokyo.
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Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci: 5 pitchers who could make a big jump in 2008 — Much went right for the 2007 Boston Red Sox. They avoided major injuries, received important contributions from rookies at second base (Dustin Pedroia) and centerfield (Jacoby Ellsbury), and watched their third baseman (Mike Lowell) put up a career year.
Allan Ryan / Toronto Star:
Blue Jays take flyer on veteran pitcher Benitez — DUNEDIN, Fla.-The Blue Jays added another veteran arm to their spring training bullpen mix Tuesday morning, signing 35-year-old reliever Armando Benitez to a minor-league contract. — Benitez will report Thursday's to the Jays' minor-league camp, said general manager J.P. Ricciardi.
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Associated Press:
Blue Jays sign Benitez to minor-league deal — Relief pitcher Armando Benitez agreed to Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. — The deal was first reported by FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. — The 35-year-old right-hander went 2-8 with a 5.37 ERA and nine saves …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
NY Daily News:
Harper: Kennedy's brain wins games — TAMPA - If Joba Chamberlain is the box-office phenom, and Phil Hughes is the can't-miss kid, what does that make Ian Kennedy, the least heralded of the three young guns the Yankees are banking on this season? — Call him the thinking man's pitcher.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
X-rays on Damon's right foot negative — Yanks outfielder injured after fouling ball off in Monday's win — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon had X-rays and an MRI exam taken on his injured right foot at a local hospital on Tuesday. Both were negative.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers rebuff interest in Laird — Club has no plans to deal likely Opening Day catcher — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers are getting interest from other teams in catcher Gerald Laird, but they aren't inclined to discuss him right now. — Teams just aren't eager to trade their Opening …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Beckett update — I have to apologize for my tardiness in blogging the lineups. It's been a busy morning, with an appearance by Mike Greenwell. Greenwell walked into the clubhouse and had to go by a security guard. The exchange: — Security guard: “Umm. Can I help you?”
Denver Post:
Barmes draws interest from O's, Angels — TUCSON — With Troy Tulowitzki cemented as the Rockies' shortstop for arguably the next decade, the Orioles and Angels are among the teams monitoring Clint Barmes this spring, hoping he becomes available in a trade.
Matt Watson / FanHouse:
On the Beat: Talking With Peter Abraham — On the Beat is FanHouse's conversation with some of the game's top sports writers. Today we're talking with Peter Abraham, who covers the New York Yankees for The Journal News and whose immensely popular LoHud Yankees Blog sets the online standard for beat writers.
Joseph Duarte / Houston Chronicle:
Matsui absence likely to last four to five days — Astros second baseman Kaz Matsui is expected to miss four or five days after being diagnosed with a condition known as anal fissure. — Matsui, who returned to central Florida on Monday night, will go through individual workouts …
Erik Matuszewski / Bloomberg:
Billy Crystal to Join Yankees, Play in Spring-Training Game — Comedian Billy Crystal will sign a one-day contract with the New York Yankees and play in a spring- training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 13, one day before his 60th birthday. — Crystal is a New York native …
