Top News:
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 …
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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 …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankee mates back A-Rod … Yankees have supported Alex Rodriguez through thick and thin during his first five years in pinstripes. Despite Saturday's revelation that the three-time MVP reportedly flunked a steroids test in 2003, it doesn't appear that will change any time soon.
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, NY Daily News, WasWatching.com, Bugs & Cranks, BASEBALL HOT CORNER and New York Post
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
RANGERS TO SIGN ANDRUW JONES — The Rangers will announce in the next few days that they have signed center fielder Andruw Jones to a minor league contract that will pay him a base salary of $500,000 if he makes the majors, the Post has learned. — Jones will also have an opportunity …
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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.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A tough pitch to let go by — LA offering may be best Ramírez will see — Give Dodgers owner Frank McCourt credit. He made a heck of an attempt to sign Manny Ramírez with an offer that made sense for both sides: one year, $25 million. — It was a page from the book …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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 …
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
New Ace May Be In Play For Nats — 23-Strikeout Game Put Strasburg at Head of Draft Class — SAN DIEGO — One evening last April, a 19-year-old named Stephen Strasburg threw a ballgame so sublime that it redefined the possibilities for his life. — Strasburg threw 128 pitches, only five of which were hit into fair territory.
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
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 …
