Top News:
David Waldstein / New York Times:
At Charity Event, Cashman Has Plenty to Say, Just Not About Torre's Book — PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. — While Joe Torre was making his various stops across the New York metropolitan area Tuesday, speaking at length about his new book and all the controversial topics within, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Cashman: Yanks are done spending — GM states team will not pursue Ramirez, declines comment on Torre's book — NEW YORK — Manny Ramirez's potential pinstripes debut and Brian Cashman's first book as an author have one thing in common. Neither will happen in 2009.
NY Daily News:
Posada says Torre has ‘done nothing wrong’ — Jorge Posada says '(Torre's) been a father figure to me, so I don't think he can do any wrong.' — TAMPA - Jorge Posada joked that it would “take me about three years” to read every page of Joe Torre's book, “The Yankee Years.”
Dom Amore / Hartford Courant:
Great Winter For Yankees' Cashman — CROMWELL — It will be nearly a year before Brian Cashman can say if he really did “win the winter,” as the big acquisitions he has made for the Yankees seem to indicate. Among the many things to ponder: How long will it take CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett to adapt to New York.
Associated Press:
Moorad, Padres agree on sale of team — SAN DIEGO — Former agent Jeff Moorad has reached an agreement for his group to buy the San Diego Padres from majority owner John Moores. — Moorad, who resigned last month as chief executive officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks …
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Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Minaya rules out Manny — Omar Minaya has ruled out bringing in Manny Ramirez or any other major expenditure. The lone pieces still being sought are a lefty reliever on a minor-league deal and a righty bat for the bench, perhaps via a spring-training trade.
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Atkins, Rockies avoid arbitration — Sides won't have to attend hearing after agreeing to one-year pact — DENVER — The Rockies and Garrett Atkins reached a one-year, $7.05 million agreement Tuesday to avoid an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Friday.
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies avoid arbitration with Atkins — Garrett Atkins will not be a distraction. A potentially harmful arbitration hearing was avoided today when the Atkins signed a one-year, $7.05-million deal. He can also make an additional $125,000 if he reaches 700 plate appearances.
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
A circus on 5th Ave — While waiting for Joe Torre to arrive at the midtown bookstore earlier today, one reporter joked that there were more journlaists waiting for Torre - who no longer works in New York - than were in the room when the Jets introduced their new head coach, Rex Ryan.
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Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:Torre's name on the book's cover but contents aren't all his doing
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Sliding Into Home
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants play waiting game with Ramirez — Team would benefit from adding slugger, but won't do long-term deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Besides ranking as the Giants' chief rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers also could serve as an example to them in the Manny Ramirez saga. — Stand firm.
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Buster Olney / ESPN:Source: Dodgers turn to Dunn, Hudson
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MLB:
Reports: O's, Wigginton agree on 2-year deal — The Baltimore Orioles added a versatile infielder on Tuesday, with free agent Ty Wigginton agreeing to a two-year contract. — The deal, pending a physical, is worth a total of $6 million, according to the Baltimore Sun. Foxsports.com was the first to report the story.
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John Jeansonne / Newsday:
Rocket's positive test doesn't prove steroids, HGH — Tests that link Roger Clemens' DNA to blood in syringes provided to investigators by Clemens' personal trainer Brian McNamee could bolster prosecutors' claim that Clemens lied about steroid use. But both legal and medical experts cautioned …
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Hardball Times
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Manny, Nats marriage not happening — Contrary to reports, GM says club is not interested in slugger — WASHINGTON — A day after outfielder Manny Ramirez turned down a one-year, $25 million offer from the Dodgers, reports began to resurface that the Nationals may pursue the right-handed-hitting slugger.
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Associated Press:
Wang has first mound session this year — TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang threw 27 pitches Tuesday in his first mound session this year as he rehabilitates his injured foot. — Wang missed the final 3½ months of last season after hurting his foot running the bases.
Joe Christensen / Around the Majors:
For the Twins, the Washburn ship has sailed — OK everyone, time for a deep breath. — I did some checking today, and the Twins have lost their appetite for a Jarrod Washburn trade. Also, the glitch that makes you scroll through multiple pages to see the bottom of our blog comments is only temporary.
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Nick & Nick's Twins Blog, Lookout Landing, MLB Rumors, Mariners Insider and seattlepi.com Mariners blog
Denver Post:
Hurdle's new mantra: consistency — The Rockies don't like distractions. They traded Matt Holliday when contract talks failed, overhauled the coaching staff this offseason and avoided arbitration with all of their players. But manager Clint Hurdle's contract exists as a potential disruption …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Pieces of his mind — Picked-up pieces while still mourning John Updike, the greatest writer of them all and the man who wrote “Picked-Up Pieces” . . . Sorry, I can't get into a lather about this Michael Phelps bong photograph. He has apologized appropriately.
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
'03 Sample at Issue in Bonds Trial — A urine sample that Barry Bonds provided as part of the anonymous testing that baseball conducted in 2003 has tested positive for performance-enhancing substances, according to people familiar with the matter. — Although the samples …
New York Post:
JETER: I SUPPORT A-ROD — TELLS SI.COM ‘OUR WHOLE TEAM IS BEHIND HIM’ — Derek Jeter spoke to SI.com today and fully backed teammate Alex Rodriguez, who has taken more heat since it was revealed in Joe Torre's new book that the third baseman was nicknamed “A-Fraud” by teammates.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
ROYALS SIGN BANNISTER — The Royals signed pitcher Brian Bannister to a one-year $1,737,500 contract, avoiding arbitration, the Post has learned. — Bannister can earn an additional $25,000 by pitching 200 innings and also by making the All-Star team. — In the arbitration process …
