Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Gammons's take — ESPN baseball guru Peter Gammons, while promoting his upcoming “Hot Stove, Cool Music” event, spoke at length this afternoon on sports radio station WEEI about the future of Jason Varitek, Mark Teixeira's icy past relationship with Alex Rodriguez, and numerous other topics.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: MANNY, LOWE, TEIXEIRA — Howdy. Checking in from vacation again. I continue to do the morning show from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. this week on Sirius (Channel 210)/XM (Channel 175) for those who have some time. I also attended yesterday's Mark Teixeira press conference and figured this would be a good place to offer some opinion:
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Marquis gone; Peavy in focus? — The Cubs finished off the Jason Marquis-for-Luis Vizcaino trade with the Colorado Rockies as expected Tuesday. — But will it look more like a Marquis-for-Jake Peavy deal by the time they open spring training next month? — General manager Jim Hendry …
Discussion:
Baseball America, The Cub Reporter (TCR), Chicago Tribune, MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com and wrigleyville23
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies still pursuing depth, have interest in Fogg — The acquisition of Jason Marquis doesn't change the Rockies' desire for more pitching depth, but it doesn't leave much room in the budget or on the depth chart to land free agents Tim Redding and Josh Fogg.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Giambi completes one-year deal to return to A's … OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jason Giambi is returning to his professional baseball roots with the Oakland Athletics. — Giambi and the A's finalized a one-year contract with an option Wednesday, bringing the free-agent designated hitter …
RELATED:
Benjamin Hoffman / Bats:Giambi Lived Up to Expectations
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, The Bronx Insider, Scott Proctor's Arm, Zell's Pinstripe Blog and bronxbanterblog.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Pitcher Patterson retiring from baseball — Former Nationals righty unable to overcome pain in right forearm — WASHINGTON — Right-hander John Patterson, best known for his years with the Nationals, announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from baseball because of persistent pain in his right forearm.
Aaron Fitt / Baseball America:
Washington Nationals — 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 …
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds invite 11 to big league camp — Outfielder Nix, reliever Fultz among those with Majors experience — CINCINNATI — The Reds revealed on Wednesday that 11 players have been invited to Major League Spring Training as non-roster players. — There are four pitchers, two catchers …
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates still on Baldelli's trail — The Pirates remain active in a narrowing field of teams pursuing free-agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli. — There had been five or six suitors for Baldelli as of late last month, but two appear to have been removed this week: The Tampa Bay Rays signed …
Rick Chandler / Deadspin:
Octogenarian Writer Leaves Rickey Henderson Off His HOF Ballot; Hilarity Ensues — Rickey Henderson is a lock to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but will he be the first-ever unanimous selection? Sadly, no ... thanks to this man! — Meet Corky Simpson, former sportswriter …
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves keeping tabs on Kawakami — Japanese righty has recently narrowed his list of potential teams — ATLANTA — As Kenshin Kawakami gets closer to choosing a Major League employer, the Braves still appear to be appealing to the Japanese right-hander. — According to a source familiar …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
The final chapter on Teixeira — NEW YORK - In the catacombs of the old Yankee Stadium, dressed in a charcoal suit with pinstripes, Mark Teixeira settled his large frame into a rather ordinary folding chair yesterday. The latest member of the Yankees gently removed his cap, exposing an undeniable impression on his forehead.
Discussion:
AOL Sports
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R.B. Fallstrom / Associated Press:
Cardinals manager passionate animal advocate — BC-BBN—La Russa's Pet Project, 1st Ld-Writethru,0675 — Eds: UPDATES throughout. — By R.B. FALLSTROM — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Inside Tony La Russa's northern California home, there are more dogs and cats than positions on the baseball field.
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Eric Simon / Amazin' Avenue:
Citi Field: Where Homeruns Go To Die — Citi Field opens for real in three months, but I feel like we still know very little about it aside from its aesthetics. Dimensionally, we know it'll sport a similar configuration to Shea Stadium, with some variably higher walls and the odd geometric nuance to break from straight symmetry.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
First-rounder Castro gets spring invite — Prospect was 10th overall pick in '08, three others to join him — HOUSTON — Jason Castro has earned high marks practically from the day the Astros drafted him as their No. 1 pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, and in less than six weeks …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Mike Osegueda / Hartford Courant:
Surprise Find: A 139-Year-Old Baseball Card — Bernice Gallego of Collectique holds the rare 1869 baseball card that turned up at her shop recently. The card, a Peck & Synder featuring the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team, is said to be the first baseball card ever produced.
