Top News:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
A-Rod scoffs at Joe-Fraud — Alex Rodriguez told friends Monday that he is “not bothered at all” by the reports that Joe Torre apparently took some shots at him in his forthcoming book, and dismissed talk of an “A-Fraud” persona or any Derek Jeter obsession as old news that no longer applies to his standing in the Yankee clubhouse.
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Newsday:
See photos of Joe Torre's managerial career — That observation comes on Page 37 of 477, and before A-Rod even arrives in the Bronx. But it sets the tone: 1996-2001 — good. 2002-2007 — not. — Of course, it is more complicated than that, and the book, due in stores next Tuesday …
Mark Hale / New York Post:
BOWA: TEAMMATE SHOTS AT ALEX ALL IN FUN — Alex Rodriguez may have been referred to as “A-Fraud,” but it was in jest, says former Yankee coach Larry Bowa. — In Joe Torre's latest book, “The Yankee Years,” it's reported that Yankee players referred to A-Rod as “A-Fraud.”
New York Post:
ON 2ND THOUGHT, PUT JOBA IN 'PEN — NOW that Andy Pettitte is signed, sealed and finally delivered, it's time the Yankees throw a high, hard one at the opposition. Forget about Joba Chamberlain being in the rotation - he needs to go back to the bullpen. From Day 1 of spring training.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Heartland Pinstripes, Replacement Level …, The Chuck Knoblog and New Jersey Online
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pettitte's deal is done
Pettitte's deal is done
Discussion:
MLB.com, River Avenue Blues, Pinstripes, Pa., iYankees, Yankees N More, NY Daily News, Pinstriped Scranton and Bronx Baseball Daily
JSOnline:
Don't believe Perez rumor — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — I just saw this report that Jon Heyman said on the MLB Network that the Brewers might have interest in free agent lefty Oliver Perez. — Don't count on it. — When I ran Perez's name by Brewers general manager …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox give Varitek deadline on offer — Boston reportedly asks veteran catcher for decision by Saturday — BOSTON — The Red Sox should know by the end of the week if Jason Varitek, their primary catcher since 1999, will be part of their 2009 squad. — The Boston Herald — citing a …
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Varitek deadline set for Saturday — Jason Varitek filed for free agency more than three months ago. By the end of the day Saturday, we should all know whether the Red Sox catcher and captain will be returning to the team this year. — A baseball source confirmed this morning that the Red Sox …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
For Varitek, offer may have a catch
For Varitek, offer may have a catch
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Providence Journal, The Bottom Line, Boston Sports Media Watch, sox1fan.com and River Avenue Blues
MASNsports.com:
MASN Names Rob Dibble As New Color Announcer for Nationals Baseball — 2-Time All Star, World Series Champion, MVP of the NLCS, XM/Sirius Broadcaster — MASN has named Rob Dibble as the new color commentator for the Washington Nationals. He will join play-by-play man Bob Carpenter …
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
The Baseball Tattoo Hall of Fame: Mickey Mantle and Pete Rose — Holy Chuck Hustle, Batman! I think we've finally found a few tats that can beat that Brewers + Grateful Dead job we posted last summer. The above tattoos of Mickey Mantle (leg) and Pete Rose (arm) were both done …
Discussion:
With Leather
Denver Post:
Jimenez open to long-term deal — The Rockies want to lock up starter Ubaldo Jimenez long-term. But they have only a short time to secure a multiyear deal. — “It's on our agenda, absolutely,” general manager Dan O'Dowd said Monday. “But we would not want to drag that into spring training.”
ESPN.com:
Justice, Gooden deny Radomski's allegations — David Justice and Dwight Gooden denied allegations made by former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski during an exclusive interview with “Outside the Lines” on Sunday. Radomski told ESPN that Justice lied about knowing him and purchasing …
Garry D. Howard / JSOnline:
Bucks' season could make future tense — Snap. — Michael Redd tears his anterior cruciate ligament. — Crackle. — Redd also tears his medial collateral ligament. — Pop. — The Milwaukee Bucks' playoff chances in a must-have-it year take a monumental hit …
Discussion:
MVN
Kary Booher / Baseball America:
Winter Notes: Puerto Rican League — As mentioned, the Puerto Rican League was full of more veterans than prospects in its return, but it still had plenty of storylines.. Consider: — IAN KENNEDY, RHP, YANKEES — Kennedy had as bad a year in 2008 as he had in 2007 …
Discussion:
Rays Index
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates add Fogg-like pitcher Vasquez — Hearing dates set for McLouth, Maholm; payroll near $50 million — If there is a familiar feel to the statistics of Virgil Vasquez, the pitcher the Pirates claimed off waivers yesterday from the Detroit Tigers, there probably is a reason …
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Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Astros sign Rodriguez, Geary to one-year deals — Club avoids arbitration with pair of pitchers — Meeting their deadline to work out deals before having to hunker down for arbitration hearings, the Astros signed starting lefthander Wandy Rodriguez and reliever Geoff Geary to one-year contracts.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Atkins looks forward to 2009 with Rockies — Third baseman Garrett Atkins is pointing toward the 2009 season with the Rockies, something he didn't foresee happening when 2008 ended. — “I figured they would trade either me or Matt (Holliday), going in (to the offseason),” Atkins said.
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Atkins' hearing date a secret; Fogg still possible addition
Atkins' hearing date a secret; Fogg still possible addition
Discussion:
Denver Post