Top News:
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Cubs opening with Cedeno, Fontenot — By Paul Sullivan, 11:23 a.m.; UPDATE: 12:15 — MESA, Ariz. — Ronny Cedeno is in. Alex Cintron is out. — That's the word from Lou Piniella at Cubs camp Wednesday as Cubs players packed their belongings onto the equipment truck to be shipped back to Chicago for the regular season.
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
MacPhail: Roberts deal unlikely before opener — O's second baseman expected to be in lineup for start of season — JUPITER, Fla. - Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail acknowledged today that it is unlikely that All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts will be traded before Opening Day.
Discussion:
Oriole Magic
Chicagosports / Hardball:
MacPhail: No Roberts deal with Cubs — TEMPE, Ariz. — Baltimore president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters in Ft. Lauderdale Wednesday that a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs is off the table. — “We worked at it this long and we don't have deal,” MacPhail said.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Escobar has torn shoulder — The pitcher says he might face surgery that would force him to miss the season or, worse, end his career. — TEMPE, Ariz. — Pitcher Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner last season, revealed this morning that he has a tear in his shoulder …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, Big A Baseball, The Big Lead, Lookout Landing and Baseball Digest Daily
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New York Post:
NO-GO FOR NEW JOE — YANKEES' PLAYOFF STREAK COMING TO END — Brian Cashman didn't want to part with the young arms. Hal Steinbrenner believed paying a pitcher close to $150 million for seven years was too expensive. — So, against Hank Steinbrenner's wishes, the Yankees allowed Johan Santana to slip into Queens.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Three for the money — Mike Mussina has found the fountain of youth, and it resides in the picturesque lake that can be seen on the wall next to his locker. — “Lake Mussina,” as it has come to be known, is the centerpiece of a corner of the Yankees' home clubhouse at Legends Field.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, New York Post, Sliding Into Home, The Bronx Block, BASEBALL HOT CORNER and iYankees
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates acquire Yates from Atlanta, buy out Kim — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates this morning acquired reliever Tyler Yates from the Atlanta Braves for pitching prospect Todd Redmond, bought out the contract of reliever Byung-Hyun Kim and made several other moves. — Among them:
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Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves trade reliever Yates to Pirates — Team acquires 22-year-old starter Redmond in return — The Braves have traded reliever Tyler Yates to Pittsburgh for minor-league right-hander Todd Redmond. — Yates, 30, had spent most of the last two seasons with the Braves …
ESPN.com:
Laird edges Saltalamacchia as Rangers' catcher — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Gerald Laird won his duel with Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the job as the Texas Rangers' starting catcher. — Saltalamacchia was optioned to the Rangers' minor league camp Wednesday. The 22-year-old switch-hitter …
Discussion:
Arin It Out
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Kansas City Royals — This isn't easy. All 30 teams find themselves somewhere on this list not because they have some fundamental flaw, because they're good people or bad people, or because they work more or less hard than anyone else. Every athletic trainer at every level is properly certified …
Discussion:
Royals Review
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MLB.com:
Washington Nationals to host inaugural game at Nationals Park on Sunday, March 30 at 8:15 PM — The Washington Nationals will host the Atlanta Braves at 8:15 pm in the Inaugural Game at Nationals Park, their new home on South Capitol Street, SE in the Capitol Riverfront District.
Sports Illustrated:
Taylor: Canseco needs to find new way to make quick buck — Someone needs to find Jose Canseco a new hobby. Maybe we could all chip in for a set of golf clubs, or get him started on a coin collection, because Canseco clearly has too much time on his hands, some of which he has used …
Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Mystery, intrigue as deadline nears for Phillies' final roster spots — CLEARWATER, Fla. - At the beginning of spring training, the Phillies clubhouse always resembles a crowded bus terminal with players here, players there, players, players everywhere.
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Neil Best / Newsday:
Sheppard will miss final opener — Bob Sheppard, the Yankees' public address announcer since the 1951 home opener, will not work the final opener at Yankee Stadium Monday as he continues to recover from health problems that have limited him for the past six months.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Back to reality for Moss — TOKYO—Home Run Hero Tuesday. Strikeout Machine Wednesday. — This is what baseball will do to a guy. It will mess with your head. — Like Sinatra sang: “ . . . riding high in April, shot down in May.” — Tuesday night Brandon Moss became the first player …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
John Delcos / The LoHud Mets Blog:
About Gotay ... Ruben Gotay hit against Pedro Martinez in his minor league game. News he was placed on waivers is inaccurate. That's not to say it won't in the future, but not right now. He appears to have fallen behind Fernando Tatis. The emergence of Tatis could also push out Brady Clark.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
FIFTH AVENUE — VARGAS COULD FILL OUT ROTATION — Claudio Vargas could be a candidate for the Mets' No. 5 starter vacancy. — The 29-year-old right hander was released yesterday by the Brewers in a salary dump, and Mets GM Omar Minaya said his club will have a strong interest now that Vargas reportedly has cleared waivers.
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