Top News:
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Alex a total bust — Now that it appears he really is “A-Fraud,” Alex Rodriguez can forget about having his run at Barry Bonds' all-time home run record taken seriously. — And, like Bonds, Rodriguez can probably forget the Hall of Fame, too. — I can't speak for the rest …
RELATED:
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Give us the juice, A-Rod — Alex Rodriguez needs to come clean now, about what Sports Illustrated says is a dirty drug test out of his past. — He needs to come clean in a way that Barry Bonds never really has and Roger Clemens probably never will, in a way that Mark McGwire did not come clean …
Mike Puma / New York Post:
RODRIGUEZ DEBACLE MEANS BRONX ZOO BACK IN BUSINESS — Move over, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, there's a new potential inductee to the Yankees' Hall of Shame. — This member simply could have “A-Roid” inscribed on his plaque. — According to a Sports Illustrated report …
Harvey Araton / New York Times:
Nine More Years of a Marriage Not Made in Heaven — Nine more years. Nine long, bold-headlined years. That is how much longer the Yankees are contractually obligated to put up with always-something Alex Rodriguez. With his celebrity distractions, his need to be noticed …
MLB.com:
A-Rod would be wise to come clean — Admission could be first step in repairing image — An open letter to Alex Rodriguez ... Don't be Roger Clemens. Don't be Barry Bonds. — Get real. — Start with Andy Pettitte. Then, Jason Giambi. — They admitted wrongdoing. They are still playing today.
Discussion:
iYankees
Buster Olney / ESPN:
A-Rod now tarnished forever … Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be the guy who saved baseball, the way that Mark McGwire did in 1998. He was supposed to ride in and save the home run record from the clutches of suspected steroid user Barry Bonds. He was supposed to be the guy who would show …
Discussion:
Baseball & The Boogie Down, Deadspin, sox1fan.com, My Pinstripes, River Avenue Blues, The Big Lead and THE BASEBALL SAVANT
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Donnelly inked to Minor League deal — Veteran reliever to compete for bullpen spot in Spring Training — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are adding pitcher Brendan Donnelly to their Spring Training roster and the competition for a spot in the bullpen. — Donnelly has agreed to a Minor League contract …
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez talks about the talks — Free-agent slugger says protracted negotiations with Dodgers and others won't prevent him from playing hard for whoever signs him. He hints a deal may be close but gives few details. — Reporting from Pensacola Beach, Fla. — Manny Ramirez says he isn't upset at the Dodgers.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com Sports News …, LA Times Sports Blog, Dodger Thoughts, MLB FanHouse, SFGate, Mets Blog and MLB Rumors
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Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Sabean breaks from FanFest to deliver state of the team — It was a busy day at FanFest. Of course, this isn't news if you were like me - making a futile effort to park in Lot A around 10:30 a.m. — The overflowing asphalt told the story: This was the biggest FanFest in the team's history.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Andruw Jones close to signing with Rangers — Buzz up! — Released last month by the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Andruw Jones appears headed for a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers, according to baseball sources. — Jones, who will be 32 in April, is attempting to revive …
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Jane Heller / New York Times:
On Deck With the Yankees: It's All in the Cards — According to their detractors, the greedy, acquisitive, small-market-annihilating Yankees set out to buy a championship during the off-season. — “The Yankees are just a collection of All-Stars who will crumble under the weight of expectation,” the haters scoff.
Discussion:
Confessions of a She-Fan
Richard / SportsJustice:
I'll take the Astros in October for a thousand, Alex. — A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I first heard those words one afternoon in Kissimmee when Brian McTaggart and I were arguing the merits of medium versus hot chicken wings. — They made a lot of sense to me then, and they make even more sense now.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
MLB's response and a look back at “60 Minutes” — Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Labor Relations Rob Manfred issued the following statement today regarding today's Sports Illustrated news story: — “We are disturbed by the allegations contained in the Sports Illustrated news story …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
End could possibly be near for Durham — In early February, a switch-hitting second baseman's thoughts turn to loading the bags on the spring training equipment truck, sneaking in a few extra rounds in the batting cage to stay sharp, and kissing the wife and kids goodbye on the way to the airport for Florida or Arizona.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors, Al's Ramblings, Chicago Tribune and The Cub Reporter (TCR)
Daulerio / Deadspin:
ESPN Is Giving Scott Van Pelt Some Quiet Time — Last week, ESPN's Scott Van Pelt hammered Bud Selig about the MLB Commissioner's $18.5 million salary.A little too much, apparently: SVP was suspended from his radio show on Monday, according to multiple WWL sources.
