Top News:
Austin Knoblauch / LA Times Sports Blog:
Lisa Guerrero — Jason Giambi on Joe Torre's book: 'It's hurtful' — While Joe Torre continues to plug his book, “The Yankee Years,” in New York as the Dodgers winter caravan continues without him, feedback is still rolling in, this time from one of the players mentioned in the tell-all.
RELATED:
New York Post:
ICON'S NEXT PACT WILL BE MOTHER OF ALL YANK FLAPS — CONSIDER this week, when Joe Torre revealed his inner vigilante, to be just another trial run toward the mother of all Yankee controversies. — Because if you think Torre blindsiding Brian Cashman or the Yanks slashing Andy Pettitte's salary …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Yankees Blog, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, Subway Squawkers and Bugs & Cranks
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Jason Jennings signs with Rangers — On the same day that free-agent target Ben Sheets' two-year contract collapsed over an elbow injury, former Rockie Jason Jennings signed with the Rangers last night. — Jennings, who lives and work outs in the Dallas area, confirmed the minor-league deal this morning to The Denver Post.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Sheets might need elbow surgery — Deal with Rangers called off; Brewers may pay for procedure — MILWAUKEE — Finally, an answer to one of this winter's most puzzling questions: Why is the National League's All-Star Game starting pitcher still looking for a job?
Discussion:
Baseball Insider, The Cub Reporter (TCR), Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, Yahoo! Sports, The Crawfish Boxes, MLB FanHouse, Mets Today, Amazin' Avenue, El Lefty Malo, River Avenue Blues, Mets Merized Online, Angels blog, MetsBlog.com, The Yankee Universe, It is about the money, stupid, Chuckie Hacks, My Pinstripes, Postcards from Elysian Fields, iYankees and Dodger Thoughts
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Source: Sheets considers having elbow surgery
Source: Sheets considers having elbow surgery
Discussion:
Right Field Bleachers, MLB Rumors, Baseball Time in Arlington, Mets Blog, Halos Heaven, NJ.com and TEXAS RANGERS
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Mets sign Dessens to minor league deal — Former Rockies continue to find jobs as spring training approaches. Pitcher Elmer Dessens, who gulped up some important innings for the 2007 NL pennant winning club, signed a $600,000-minor-league deal with the Mets. He's guaranteed $72,000.
RELATED:
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Truck Day is here! — Sorry Punxsutawney Phil and your six-more-weeks-of-winter prediction, but if you live in New England and are a fan of Red Sox, a sure sign of spring has arrived — Truck Day! — The 18-wheeler that carries the Red Sox' spring training equipment from Boston to Fort Myers …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Bush designated to clear room for Floyd — Former No. 1 pick draws interest from other clubs, says Towers — SAN DIEGO — If Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is to make it to the Major Leagues, it won't be with the Padres.
RELATED:
Brent Schrotenboer / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bush in hot water again, Padres cut him loose — Matt Bush's days as a Padre are over. — And they ended in much the same way they began - with a controversial incident that involves the police. — The Padres designated Bush for assignment Thursday, just as El Cajon police were looking …
Katie Strang / Newsday:
Million Manny March only brings 10-15 Mets fans — Compared to last week, the smattering of Mets fans willing to brave the cold outside SNY studios in Manhattan for the second “Million Manny March” accurately reflected the team's likelihood of landing Manny Ramirez - rapidly dwindling.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Bravos, The Hammer, and The Train — It's quite a Thursday night in Atlanta, with a couple of former Presidents and First Ladies (not to mention $17.5 million commissioner Bud Selig) celebrating Hank Aaron's 75th birthday at the downtown Marriot Marquis, and Wayne Hancock playing only a few miles away at The Earl.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Bruney fit for Yank pen — TAMPA - On a clear, cold day, Brian Bruney stood in the outfield grass at the Yankees' minor-league complex, playing an easy game of catch with fellow reliever Jonathan Albaladejo on Thursday. Bruney looked trim and fit and when someone mentioned that to him, he replied, “I feel awesome.”
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
METS EYE LEFTY RELIEVER OHMAN — Omar Minaya confirmed this week that the Mets remain in the market for a low-priced left-handed reliever, and that reliever might turn out to be Will Ohman. — The Mets' GM contacted Ohman's agent on Wednesday to discuss a potential contract …
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
25 Random Facts About 25 Random Yankees — There's a phenomenon going around on Facebook these days where people write a note listing 25 random facts about themselves. With spring training still a week away, I thought we'd take a break from dissecting Joe Torre's book and offer a similar note here on Bats.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Latest on Manny Derby and notes around majors (cont.) — In any case, the idea of a trio of good or better players replacing one all-time great (Abreu, Orlando Hudson and Wolf might cost about what Ramirez costs, discounting the fact Ramirez is a draw who'll bring in several million extra dollars) …
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
We don't know how Madoff affects Mets — Jeff Wilpon is absolutely right. We don't know how much money the Mets have. — The real question is, how much money do the Mets have left? — It's impossible to know exactly what the endgame to the burgeoning Bernard Madoff investment scandal will be …
Adam Teicher / Kansas City Star:
Chiefs hire Haley as head coach — The Chiefs hired Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley as their new head coach, a source close to the situation told The Kansas City Star. — Details of Haley's contract were unavailable. It was also unclear when the Chiefs would make the announcement.