Top News:
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
2009 Yankees May Look A Lot Like 2008 Yankees — According to legend, at least, after being poisoned, shot, and savagely beaten, Grigori Rasputin refused to die. His killers had to bind him and throw him in a river. You can imagine the terror they felt as they watched him drown, wondering what they'd do if this didn't work.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
THE DIE IS CAST — YANKS ARE DEAD MEAT AFTER 3-7 TRIP — MINNEAPOLIS - Visiting hours are 2 TO 4 and 7 TO 9. — These are traditional times for wakes, but this isn't a public wake for the Yankees. Nevertheless, their supporters are urged to pay their respects privately today for the team …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Mistakes sink Yankees against Twins — MINNEAPOLIS - As Joe Girardi met with reporters after Wednesday's loss to the Twins, the makeshift banner bearing the Yankees' logo that had been put up in the hallway outside the visitors' clubhouse began to peel away from the wall.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Just Don't Have Their Heads in the Game — MINNEAPOLIS — The worst part for the Yankees on Wednesday was not so much that they lost again. Losing happens almost every day. It was the way they lost that was most disturbing. — The Yankees came to the end of a three-city stumble …
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Matusz closer to deal with Orioles — Hurler reportedly in Baltimore to take physical exam — CLEVELAND — The Orioles and first-round pick Brian Matusz inched closer to a deal on Thursday, with one source indicating that the two sides have agreed to terms on a Major League contract with a $3.1 million signing bonus.
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Dykstra unsigned as deadline looms — Padres must ink first rounder by Friday; Zornes comes to terms — SAN DIEGO — To a man, the Padres never figured it would take so long to get their first-round pick from June's First-Year Player Draft, first baseman Allan Dykstra, signed and into their farm system.
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Posey on the cusp of getting $7.5 million; Crawford signs, too (13) — According to industry sources, No.5 overall pick Buster Posey is a done deal. It's expected to be a major league contract in the neighborhood of $7.5 million. That shatters the biggest amateur bonus in franchise history — by nearly $5 million.
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Major league deal unlikely for Alvarez — However the Pirates' talks with top draft pick Pedro Alvarez turn out, it is increasingly unlikely that a major league contract will be in the equation. — It remains possible, but unlikely. — The reason: Drafted players …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins Notebook: Cantu could be candidate for Comeback Player award — MIAMI GARDENS — While struggling last season with Tampa Bay, Jorge Cantu said he found inspiration by watching teammate Carlos Pena, who revived his career by hitting .282 with 46 home runs and 121 RBI.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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MiamiHerald.com:
Ross out of Marlin's lineup with arm injury — Outfielder Cody Ross took a Russ Springer fastball on the left arm in the sixth inning of Tuesday's victory over the Cardinals and refused to come out of the game despite being in pain. — Ross said the spot where he was hit — just above the elbow …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Ricky Treon / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Fort Worth Cats sign major-league draft pick Aaron Crow — Pitcher Aaron Crow, who was selected ninth overall in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft by Washington in June, signed a minor-league contract with the Fort Worth Cats on Wednesday. — Crow was the Big 12 pitcher of the year at Missouri last season.
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Jack Magruder / East Valley Tribune:
D-Backs notebook: Dunn rebuts ex-teammate's claims — DENVER - When Adam Dunn was traded, former teammate Bronson Arroyo said he could understand it because Cincinnati could not afford him. — “He was going to be moved no matter what,” Arroyo told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
With Lowell out, Youkilis trades places — Mike Lowell has one of those oblique injuries that requires lots of rehabilitation, and finger crossing that the two weeks on the disabled list will heal it. If not, the Sox will be seeing Gold Glove first baseman Kevin Youkilis playing a lot of third base.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles play their ace, shut down Indians — Guthrie allows one run in seven innings, wins fourth straight — CLEVELAND - In the two days leading up to his start last night, Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie barely set foot in the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field.
Discussion:
Oriole Magic
Dan Steinberg / Washington Post:
USA Baseball Wins, Bizarrely — The stands just before the second rain delay of U.S.-Netherlands baseball. By the end, they were emptier. — The U.S. baseball team won a 7-0 decision over the Netherlands today, with Stephen Strasburg throwing seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball …
Discussion:
Baseball America
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies sign reliever Villarreal — The Rockies have signed reliever Oscar Villarreal to a minor league contract, adding a veteran at minimal financial risk who might help in long and middle relief this season and in 2009. — Villarreal, 26, will make his debut in the organization Saturday with Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs sweep doubleheader from Braves — ATLANTA — The 1984 season brings back memories both delicious and dreadful for Cubs fans, and now they have a companion piece to compare it to. — By sweeping Atlanta 10-2 and 8-0 Wednesday in a day-night doubleheader at Turner Field …
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