Top News:
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Yankees not on verge of signing Manny Ramirez — If any of you saw the ImpactoDeportivo.com report that the Yankees are on the verge of signing Manny Ramirez to a three-year, $75-million contract, don't get excited (either good or bad). It's not true. Hal Steinbrenner told me this afternoon, “If we are, I don't know about it.”
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Jeter thinks Manny would fit with Yanks — Team captain impressed by signings of two top pitchers — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter can't claim to have a close personal relationship with Manny Ramirez, but if the Washington Heights, N.Y., product winds up back in New York, the Yankees captain believes he will fit in.
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Jeter: Yankees don't need Manny Ramirez — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter doesn't think Manny Ramirez would be a problem in the Yankees clubhouse. But the Yankees captain doesn't seem to feel the Yankees need him. — “We have a pretty good lineup,” Jeter said. “I think we've scored plenty of runs.”
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:PINSTRIPE POSTS
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The LoHud Yankees Blog, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, River Avenue Blues, Subway Squawkers, WasWatching.com and iYankees
Roch Kubatko / MASN Online:
The Nationals may have taken the lead! — According to multiple sources, the Washington Nationals have sweetened their proposal to first baseman Mark Teixeira, offering him an eight-year deal worth $178 to $184 million. — The Nats were believed to have an eight-year, $160 million offer on the table.
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Mike / Sons Of Simmons:
Sources: Red Sox Agree In Principle On Deal With Mark Teixeira — Sources have confirmed to Sons of Simmons, that the Boston Red Sox have agreed in principle to an eight-year deal with first basemen Mark Teixeira. Details are still sketchy at the moment, but it looks to be for around $170 Million dollars …
Sweeny Murti Yankees Blog:
Sweeny Says: Go Get Tex — Yankees@wfan.com — New York, NY (WFAN) — The more I think about it, the more all these calls and e-mails I get are right. The Yankees need to get Mark Teixeira. And here's how I think they can get him. — How does this not make sense for the Yankees?
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Nats may have upped Teixeira offer — Opt-out clause a possibility for bid approaching 10 years — As the Angels went into the bunker on Monday to begin exploring Plans B through Z and the Red Sox, Orioles and Yankees made no known major waves on the Mark Teixeira beachhead …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
MLB.com:
Yankees sign Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract — The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract for $5 million, avoiding arbitration. — Wang, 28, was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts for the Yankees in 2008 …
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Dayn Perry / Fox Sports:
Yankees haven't overtaken BoSox, Rays — Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the blog Spolitical, which explores the relationship between sports and politics. He's presently at work on his second book, a biography of Reggie Jackson. — It hasn't been enough.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
APNewsBreak: Yanks have $26.9 million luxury tax — Buzz up! — NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees not only failed to make the playoffs, they were hit with their highest luxury tax in three years. — The Yankees were assessed a $26.9 million tax by the commissioner's office on Monday …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
WBC apathy is an American affliction — Buzz up! — For nearly an hour during their news conference two weeks ago to promote the World Baseball Classic, the tournament's organizers blathered on about rule changes and mandatory reporting dates and scheduling specifics.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:WRIGHT TO BE STARTING WBC THIRD BASEMAN
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BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
On Old Cassette, Barber's Voice Brings to Life Game He Missed — No one broadcast Johnny Vander Meer's second consecutive no-hitter in June 1938, but that did not deter fans from telling Red Barber years later how much they enjoyed his call. — Barber should have called it, at least for symmetry's sake.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Who is on Brewers' radar? — Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers fans' burning questions — It looks like the free-agent pool is thinning out when it comes to players that the Brewers are looking for. With the need for another left-handed bat, as well as pitching in general …
MLB.com:
Braves announce Minor League coaching staffs for 2009 — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves announced their 2009 Minor League coaching staffs today, including new coaches at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. — The inaugural Gwinnett Braves (AAA) coaching staff will include the return …
