Top News:
Associated Press:
‘Tough act to follow’: Hal officially running Yanks — NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners approved the shift of control of the New York Yankees from George Steinbrenner to his son, Hal, on Thursday. — Hal Steinbrenner and his brother, Hank, took over most of the daily operation of the Yankees from their father last fall.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Big Apple Sports, YanksBlog.com, Rivera's Cutter and It is about the money, stupid
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Boss transfers control of Yankees to Hal — The Yankees have named Hal Steinbrenner as their control person, making it eminently clear that it is Hal Steinbrenner, and not his older, more verbose brother Hank, who plays the greater role in the team's operations.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Utley to have hip surgery, could be out until June … If the Philadelphia Phillies weren't aware before Thursday of how hard it can be to repeat, the World Series champs know that now. — The team announced Thursday that second baseman Chase Utley will need right hip surgery that potentially …
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Utley to Have Hip Surgery, Out 4 to 6 Months — Chase Utley will have right hip surgery, and will miss the next four to six months. — The Phillies said in a news release that since the end of the World Series, Utley “has had several diagnostic studies in regards to right hip symptoms that he had during the 2008 season.”
Scott Lauber / Phillies:
BREAKING: SURGERY FOR UTLEY, FELIZ (UPDATED) — Just in: Chase Utley (hip) and Pedro Feliz (lower back) will undergo surgery. Utley, it appears, will miss four to six months, which could delay his start of the 2009 season. Here's the press release, straight from the Phillies …
Paul DePodesta / It Might Be Dangerous:
Roster Changes — If you've been viewing the transactions of MLB teams the past few days, you've noticed a lot of activity. Today is the deadline for setting the ML roster for purposes of the Rule V draft next month. — First, the rules (well, the shorthand version): 1) …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Carp added to 40-man roster — The Mets elevated first baseman Mike Carp to their 40-man roster today, increasing said roster to 34 players. Carp, 22, hit .299 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 134 games for Double-A Binghamton en route to being named an Eastern League Postseason All-Star and is now playing winter ball in Venezuela.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
It's official: Mussina has retired — This release from the Yankees: — Five-time All-Star Mike Mussina today announced his retirement from Baseball. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mussina becomes the first pitcher to retire immediately following a 20-win season since Hall …
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Supply outweighs demand when it comes to closers market — As millions of residents of Queens, St. Louis and Cleveland could testify, there was a time — oh, about two months ago — when no one could have dreamed that one day we all would get to live in a world where the supply of closers would exceed the demand.
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JSOnline:
Yankees still interested in Cameron — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — According to a report by the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees are still interested in acquiring centerfielder Mike Cameron from the Brewers. — The Brewers and Yankees talked about Cameron …
RELATED:
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:Yankees to pursue Mike Cameron for center field
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Sox to sign 19-year-old Cuban star Viciedo — Dayan Viciedo talks to the media during a press conference in Hialeah, Fla. in June. He defected and settled in South Florida in May. (AP photo) — The White Sox's collection of talented Cubans is growing.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Heilman maneuvers — Aaron Heilman doesn't necessarily want out of New York. He just wants out of the bullpen. — But if the Mets insist he remain a reliever, Heilman wants to be traded. — “The object the entire time has never been to get out of New York,” Heilman's agent Mark Rodgers told the Daily News.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Rangers sell Loe's rights to Japanese team … Texas Rangers pitcher Kameron Loe has become the latest major leaguer to leave for Japan, signing a two-year, $2 million contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League, said a baseball source.
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
A's examine Furcal's medical reports — Shortstop's agent would not confirm if club has made offer — OAKLAND — Having set club records for use of the disabled list in each of the past two seasons, the A's are leaving nothing to chance in their pursuit for free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal …
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
MLB.com:
Frank Wren chat transcript — Busy GM talks Hot Stove with Braves fans online … Wren: Welcome, everyone. It seems like the offseason has been going on for six months instead of a month and a half. I'll try to answer as many questions as possible. — glenn1981: What pitchers are you targeting, if any, in the trade world?
