Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox make Mirabelli release official — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox have just made Doug Mirabelli's release official. He was placed on unconditional release waivers. — Will he be back? — That all depends on how well Kevin Cash or Dusty Brown handle Tim Wakefield.
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Sox release Mirabelli … FORT MYERS - The Red Sox [team stats] almost seemed reluctant to re-sign Doug Mirabelli [stats] to one-year contracts during the last two offseasons. This morning, their reasons became more apparent. — They released him. — Prior to today's meeting between …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox release catcher Mirabelli — Surprise move opens door for Cash to assume backup role — FORT MYERS, Fla. — In a move that was somewhat surprising, the Red Sox parted ways with Doug Mirabelli, putting the veteran backup catcher on unconditional release waivers before Thursday's exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:Coco in for face-to-face — Tito, Theo call Crisp for meeting
Discussion:
Associated Press, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, The Bottom Line, MLB Rumors and MLB.com
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Entire Yanks lineup will travel to VT — Majority of roster expected to participate as club honors victims — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees' Spring Training schedule normally limits their travel to Florida's highway system, but on Tuesday, they'll take perhaps their most meaningful and poignant trip of the season.
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Spring Training / Associated Press:
Yanks' Mussina throws 5 perfect innings — TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Mike Mussina threw five perfect innings, but got overshadowed by a batter that struck out in his lone at-bat in the New York Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. — Mussina's outing didn't get the biggest ovation from the 10,705 fans at Legends Field.
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Associated Press:
Seriously, folks: Crystal bats leadoff for Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. — Billy Crystal better stick to his night job. — The comedian, actor and Oscar presenter struck out in his new career as a baseball player Thursday — and promptly struck out as the New York Yankees' new leadoff man.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
‘Sharp’ Mussina encourages Yanks — Improving control helps righty retire all 15 Pirates faced — TAMPA, Fla. — The dry-erase board hanging in Mike Mussina's little corner of the Yankees' universe told the whole story: “5 innings + 0 hits = Gutsy.” — That brief equation …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Lohse agrees to one-year deal with Cards — JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals moved to address their question-filled starting rotation Thursday by reaching agreement with free agent righthander Kyle Lohse on a one-year contract, pending Lohse passing a team physical Friday. Terms were not disclosed.
Discussion:
FanHouse, Baseball Musings, Bird Land, Bucs Dugout, Rockin' the Red, Cardinals Diaspora and Phillies Nation
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Spring Training / Associated Press:
Cards, RHP Lohse agree on 1 year, $4.25M — JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—The St. Louis Cardinals strengthened their thin rotation on Thursday, reaching a preliminary agreement with pitcher Kyle Lohse on a $4.25 million, one-year contract. — The Cardinals said the 29-year-old will take a physical on Friday at the team's spring training site.
Discussion:
The Transaction Guy
ESPN:
ESPN MLB analyst Sutcliffe diagnosed with cancer — ESPN baseball analyst Rick Sutcliffe has been diagnosed with cancer. — Sutcliffe, 51, was diagnosed after a routine test during a physical revealed that he has a treatable and curable form of colon cancer.
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Wilpon: Mets to host All-Star Game in near future — New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said Thursday he has been informed that commissioner Bud Selig soon will announce the Mets will host an All-Star Game in the near future. — “I'm assured by the commissioner …
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Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Lamping resigns as Cardinals' president — After an active, ambitious and highly successful 13-year run as the Cardinals' team president, a tenure highlighted by the opening of the new Busch Stadium and the franchise's 10th World Series championship, Mark Lamping is heading to New York and New Jersey to pursue a new dream job.
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Tools determine who is MLB's elite — Scouts examine skill categories that make top players — How do you determine MLB's Best? — How do you figure out which of the world's foremost players are the elite among the elite? And how do you really break it down to the individual talents …
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Personnel issues — ... which, of course, are different than personal issues, which I'm sure you don't want to hear from me. But a few things. — * Dmitri Young will get three or four at-bats tonight, then play tomorrow in the home game. — * Ryan Zimmerman is not in the lineup tonight …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Scouting Crede, Inge — This morning we have reports that the Giants have recently scouted Joe Crede and Brandon Inge. Even without a decent third baseman in the house, I don't really see the point of acquiring either guy. — On Sunday, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo noted …
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