Top News:
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Blue Jays sign Rios for six, Hill for four — Rios' contract worth $64 million; Hill's includes three options — TORONTO — Timing is everything. — On Friday, when the Blue Jays arrived back at Rogers Centre for their home opener against the Red Sox, Toronto announced …
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Associated Press:
Jays give OF Rios $64M, 2B Hill $12M — TORONTO (AP)—Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios finalized a $64 million, six-year contract extension Friday that runs through 2014, and second baseman Aaron Hill agreed to a $12 million, four-year deal. — Toronto announced the agreements before its home opener against the Boston Red Sox.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Steve Crowe / Boston Globe:
Colon comes up aces in Pawtucket opener — PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Bartolo Colon made it clear he doesn't want to stay in Pawtucket long. And if he continues to pitch the way he did last night, he won't have to. — Colon pitched five scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing one hit and one walk …
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Mike Scandura / MLB.com:
Colon keeps pace in rotation berth bid — Red Sox righty breezes through five frames in Minors start — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Bartolo Colon wouldn't bite. — Colon delivered a Major League performance Thursday night while pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox in their International League opener against the Indianapolis Indians.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, Capps sign two-year, $3.1 million contract — MIAMI — The Pirates and closer Matt Capps today signed a two-year contract worth $3.1 million. — Capps last month was given a $435,000 salary for the current season. That figure was increased to $500,000, plus a $250,000 signing bonus.
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
WAIVING HAS GOTAY STEAMING — Add Ruben Gotay to the list of ex-Mets vowing revenge against their former team. — Like Lastings Milledge and Paul Lo Duca earlier this spring, Gotay is angry with the Mets for giving up on him without what he considers a reasonable explanation.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Mets Today, MetsBlog.com, ShysterBall, NJ.com, Mets Geek and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Hampton placed on disabled list — Strained left pectoral muscle to sideline southpaw for 15 days — ATLANTA — While there have been times when it seemed Mike Hampton's injury woes couldn't get any worse or more unbelievable, history continues to prove nothing is impossible when it comes to Hampton and his health.
Discussion:
The Transaction Guy
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Howard Megdal / New York Observer:
Giambi Tries to Reverse the Irreversible — Joe Girardi's decision to use Jason Giambi as his regular first baseman was anything but a no-brainer. Certainly, Giambi's recent history argued against it. — Giambi is hoping that a doctor's diagnosis and his first-ever winter that included running …
Cameron Martin / Bugs & Cranks:
Bill James thinks steroids fueled the Twins' two championships — Last night I was reading The Bill James Gold Mine 2008, enjoying the section on Atypical Seasons, which of course talked in great detail about Norm Cash (1961) and Darrin Erstad (2004), who overachieved more than anyone relative to their career numbers.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
El Duque may fill in for Pedro — ATLANTA - Mets officials believe Pedro Martinez's injury really is a mild strain that will sideline him only until mid-May, so they're not inclined to seek any outside pitching help now. Assuming Orlando Hernandez progresses well during a minor-league rehab assignment …
Brian Costello / New York Post:
JOBA GOES BLAND OVER FIST, FOR ONE NIGHT — As Alex Rios' fly ball settled in Bobby Abreu's glove to end the eighth inning last night, there were no fist pumps, no twirls, no screams. Yankees star Joba Chamberlain simply took his glove off and walked off the field with his head down.
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Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
It's time for sincere apologies to Bartman — I wonder if anyone might be able to clear up something for me: — How does Steve Bartman go about retrieving the last 41/2 years of his life? How does he rewind the tape and then start erasing the scenes in which news helicopters are flying …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Friday Ten Pack — Without question, this is a difficult situation. Barfield hasn't played in the minors since 2005. After an impressive .280/.318/.423 showing during his rookie campaign with San Diego, Barfield collapsed last year to .243/.270/.324 after a trade to Cleveland …
Newsday:
Blogging a way of expression for Yankees fans — Back in the day, passionate fans went to sports bars to commiserate about what ailed their team. That still works, but fans no longer have to leave their office or living room to debate the merits of new manager Joe Girardi or Joba Chamberlain's remaining in the bullpen.
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