Top News:
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Giants sign LHP Jeremy Affeldt — The Giants made a potentially significant upgrade to their depleted and ineffective bullpen, signing left-hander Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year contract Monday. — Terms haven't become public yet, but Affeldt made $3 million with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants bolster bullpen with Affeldt — Club lands sought-after free agent with two-year, $8 million deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Acting quickly on their vow to strengthen their bullpen, the Giants signed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year, $8 million contract Monday.
Associated Press:
Giants sign reliever Affeldt to two-year contract — SAN FRANCISCO — Reliever Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to agree to a contract, striking an $8 million, two-year deal Monday with the San Francisco Giants. — One of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's offseason priorities …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Towers: No recent talks with Yanks — Padres' GM dispels rumor of Peavy negotiations with Cashman — SAN DIEGO — Don't count the New York Yankees as a player in the Jake Peavy sweepstakes — not just yet, anyway. — Padres general manager Kevin Towers said on Monday …
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MLB.com:
Yankees to play first-ever exhibition games at New Yankee Stadium on April 3 and 4 against the Chicago Cubs — The New York Yankees announced today they will play the first-ever exhibition games at the new Yankee Stadium against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, April 3 at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, April 4 at 1:05 p.m.
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Rick Sutcliffe still pitching for the Cubs; urges Jake Peavy to consider playing in Chicago — ESPN analyst talks up team to Padres' Peavy — Rick Sutcliffe, who won the 1984 National League Cy Young Award with the Cubs, has been working, on his own, to convince Padres pitcher Jake Peavy to approve a possible trade to the Cubs.
Discussion:
Another Cubs Blog
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Kouzmanoff undergoes surgery to resolve pain in right shoulder — Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Saturday and “should be ready by spring training,” General Manager Kevin Towers said. — Kouzmanoff, 27, struggled with shoulder pain near the end of the season.
JSOnline:
Pujols is MVP; Braun 3rd, Sabathia 6th — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols claimed his second NL MVP award today, collecting 18 of 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Crowning achievement: Pujols NL MVP — Cards slugger's dazzling season helps club exceed expectations — ST. LOUIS — The National League's best player has also been named its most valuable. — Albert Pujols' magnificent season earned him his second NL Most Valuable Player Award.
Mark Bowman / Hot Stove Blog:
Braves interest pleases Furcal — With their pursuit of Jake Peavy put on hold, the Braves don't know if they'll have a need to find a shortstop. But if they eventually opt to deal shortstop Yunel Escobar, who was at the forefront of the Peavy negotiations, they'll likely attempt to lure Rafael Furcal back to Atlanta.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Mussina's Decision: Leave on High Note, or Go for 300 Wins? — On the last day of the regular season, when he celebrated the victory that had always eluded him, Mike Mussina smiled as he sipped a soda in the manager's office at Fenway Park. He considered the idea of finishing his career …
Discussion:
Joe Posnanski
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Citi Field Name Safe, According to Mets — Just over two years ago, the New York Mets announced that they had reached an agreement with Citigroup for the naming rights to their new ballpark slated to open in 2009 for a record $400 million over 20 years, or $20 million annually.
Phil Rogers / Baseball America:
Chicago White Sox — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Is Metcalf the man at third? — Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions — Why won't the Rangers commit to Travis Metcalf at third base? He's earned the shot, and if healthy has been productive. — Metcalf missed the first two months of the season last year with a torn hamstring.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: How will Nats use outfielders? — Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … With the acquisition of Josh Willingham and rumors swirling about the Nats wanting Carlos Gonzalez, I can't help but notice that the team has a lot of outfielders. What do they plan on doing with all of them?
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Greg Sandoval / CNET News:
MLB.com drops Silverlight for Adobe Flash — Microsoft is losing MLB.com, Major League Baseball's online unit and one of the Web's most successful subscription services, as a Silverlight customer. — MLB Advanced Media said Monday it will use Adobe's Flash Platform to deliver all live and on-demand video starting next year.
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6-4-2