Top News:
ESPN:
A-Rod admits, regrets use of PEDs — His voice shaking at times, Alex Rodriguez met head-on allegations that he tested positive for steroids six years ago, telling ESPN on Monday that he did take performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers during a three-year period beginning in 2001.
Discussion:
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Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Raissman: A-Rod expected to talk 'roids with ESPN … The next words out of Alex Rodriguez's mouth, the first since he was outed for steroids use by Sports Illustrated, will set the tone for how he is viewed for what's left of his baseball career. — He is expected to utter those words on ESPN …
Sports Illustrated:
Rodriguez admits steroid use from 2001-03 … NEW YORK (SI.com) — Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-2003, ESPN is reporting. — Those were the first three seasons of Rodriguez's then-record 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
Mark Hale / New York Post:
DEREK: GIVE ALEX BENEFIT OF DOUBT — RODRIGUEZ DESERVES CHANCE TO REPOND TO STEROID CLAIMS — TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter said Alex Rodriguez should be given a chance to address allegations he used steroids before passing judgment. — “You have to give him the benefit of the doubt,” …
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
A-Rod admits to steroid use in ESPN interview … Alex Rodriguez admits to using performance-enhancing drugs in an ESPN Monday night interview with veteran baseball reporter Peter Gammons, but says he did not know exactly what substance he was taking. In the first interview he has given since …
Stephen Hawkins / Seattle Times:
Rangers owner “betrayed” by A-Rod admission — Tom Hicks, the Texas owner who first made Alex Rodriguez baseball's highest-paid player, said he feels “personally betrayed” after the slugger's admission Monday that he used performance-enhancing drugs while with the Rangers.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:Madden: Yanks need to ditch Alex the Grate
Discussion:
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Ted Keith / Sports Illustrated:Baseball's 2009 season will be overshadowed by A-Rod
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
King Kaufman / Salon:Last clean player, please bring the flag
Discussion:
The Futility Infielder, The Big Lead, Hardball Times, Baseball Prospectus and Sabernomics
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
St. Louis Cardinals release Adam Kennedy — JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals have abruptly reversed course, releasing second baseman Adam Kennedy and declaring an open competition for the position, the Post-Dispatch has learned. — The move, apparently made at the strong urging of manager Tony La Russa …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Fox Sports, Jorge Says No!, Bronx Baseball Daily, Al's Ramblings, LA Times Sports Blog, Lookout Landing and Yahoo! Sports
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JSOnline:
Stuff on Looper — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — For those not acquainted with Braden Looper, he was a closer with Florida and the New York Mets before going to St. Louis and being converted to a starting pitcher the past two seasons. — Over that span, Looper went 24-26 with a 4.52 ERA in 63 starts.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Brew Crew Ball, Lookout Landing, MLB FanHouse, Right Field Bleachers and The Cub Reporter (TCR)
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Ensberg has shot to make Rays roster — Former All-Star third baseman Morgan Ensberg has reached agreement on a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. — Ensberg will earn a base salary of $650,000 if he makes the major league club out of spring training.
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MLB:
Yomiuri Giants ink former MLB infielder Alfonzo — MIYAZAKI, Japan — The Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League have signed former major league infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a one-year contract worth $380,000. — The Giants signed the 35-year-old Venezuelan after giving him a tryout at their spring training camp.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Meanwhile, back on the diamond — Hey, actual baseball news! — Back when I wanted to write a spring training preview story, I talked to Brian Cashman. He revealed a few things that are at least somewhat interesting. — · The Yankees will use Joba Chamberlain as their No. 5 starter from the start of the season.
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Neyer upsets Phillips in first semifinal … This isn't a fair fight. Steve Phillips, a former general manager of the New York Mets, a guy who built a real major league team for seven years, against Rob Neyer, a baseball writer, a stat guy. — Baseball writers don't know anything about baseball; neither do stat guys.
Patrick / NPB Tracker:
Ichiro Working Out as a Pitcher — You might remember a post I did last year that had a link to Ichiro pitching in the 1996 NPB All-Star Game. Ichiro came out and immediately hit 90 on the TV gun on his first warm-up pitch, and then induced a soft grounder from pinch-hitter Shingo Takatsu.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Astros deny report of interest in signing Dunn — Adam Dunn's quest to find a home in 2009 apparently will not be taking him back to his native Houston. — Astros general manager Ed Wade denied a Chicago Tribune report that the club might be planning to offer Dunn a contract before the start of spring training.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Source: Santana out of WBC — Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned. Santana, who worked on his conditioning at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie Monday …
Ken Gurnick / Hot Stove Blog:
Dodgers Sign Jeff Weaver — The Dodgers signed Jeff Weaver to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League training camp. Weaver, 32, will receive a $500,000 salary if he makes the club. — Weaver, a starter throughout his Major League career, will vie for a bullpen role.
