Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Cubs pursuing ex-Blue Jay Johnson — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this — The Cubs are showing the heaviest interest in outfielder Reed Johnson …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Roberts-to-Cubs looking unlikely — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this — Barring an 11th-hour reversal, the Cubs will not trade for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Blue Jays close to locking up OF Rios — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this — Just over a year ago, the Blue Jays signed center fielder Vernon Wells through 2014.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Now favorites, Red Sox radically shift baseball's culture … FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unless you're older than Eddie Joost, older than Dom DiMaggio, older than Zsa Zsa Gabor, you've never lived in a world like this. — You've never lived in a world where a baseball season was about to begin …
Discussion:
BOSTON IRISH
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Leitch / Deadspin:
Baseball Season Preview: Boston Red Sox — For the third consecutive season, we are proud to introduce the Deadspin Baseball Season Previews. Yes, baseball is awfully close now; heck, they're playing real games in Japan tomorrow. — Every weekday until the start of the season, a different writer will preview his/her team.
David Lefort / Boston Globe:Ellsbury note — An interesting note on Jacoby Ellsbury from the Associated Press:
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:Injured Boston 1B Casey to sit in Japan
Discussion:
Fox Sports, The Griddle, Baseball Analysts, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Boston Herald and Yahoo! Sports
MLB.com:
Yankees reach 3.8 million tickets sold for the 2008 season; Marks record pace in final season at current Yankee Stadium — The Yankees announced today they have exceeded 3.8 million tickets sold for the 2008 season, marking the earliest the club has ever reached that level.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pettitte's back throwing wrench in plans — Yankees have options on table if lefty can't start season on time — TAMPA, Fla. — While Andy Pettitte settles for simply playing catch, the Yankees are preparing contingency plans in case their projected No. 2 starter is not available to make his first appearance of the season.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pettitte plays catch, start could get delayed — Plenty of news today: — * Andy Pettitte played catch but still felt some tightness in his lower back. He could throw a bullpen session tomorrow or Wednesday. He said he doesn't want to get on the mound until he's pain-free.
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Gibbons could start season at minor league camp — O's leaning toward sending him to play in instructional league during 15-day suspension — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Orioles are leaning toward sending Jay Gibbons to the minor league camp to play in the instructional league while he serves …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves trades are brewing — Winter Haven, Fla. _ I've always told myself that one of these years I'd stop by Webb's Goat's Milk Fudge in Haines City on my drive over to a spring training game in Winter Haven. — I was wrong. — Unless it's open when I drive past it tonight on the way back …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Associated Press:
Giants infielder Frandsen injures Achilles tendon — San Francisco Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen ruptured his left Achilles tendon in a minor league game Monday and could miss the entire season. — Frandsen, who was expected to be a key utility infielder and perhaps start at times at second base …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Campaign 2008: “Read All About It” … The general managers have done their part by assembling the rosters, and the players, coaches and managers have been sweating under a hot sun in Florida and Arizona since mid-February to prepare for the season. — Now it's up to the marketing folks …
Discussion:
Yanksfan Soxfan
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Twins Extend Nathan Through 2011 [updated at 1:40 p.m.] — The Twins and Joe Nathan have agreed to a contract extension through 2011 that includes an option for 2012. — The deal was finalized today after Nathan's agent, Dave Pepe, cleared up some remaining details.
Discussion:
mlb.com, Minneapolis Star Tribune, SBG Nation Presents …, Twinkie Town and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
P. Baker / The Good Phight:
MLB Band List, Part I - National League — I was recently turned on to this video, which compares the Phillies recent run of “pretty good-ness” to that of the Foo Fighters, another bunch of dudes who are also generally solid and respectable, but never really transcendent. — What about the rest of MLB?
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Rolen might miss opener with injury — Third baseman has non-displaced fracture of right middle finger — DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Blue Jays could potentially be without Scott Rolen on Opening Day after the third baseman sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right middle finger on Sunday.
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