Top News:
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Yanks need to ditch Alex the Grate — When the Yankees re-signed Alex Rodriguez in the fall of 2007, they envisioned the “clean” alternative to Barry Bonds - the knight in shining armor who would erase the stain of steroids from the all-time home run record, and they would bask in the glory of it with their brand.
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NY Daily News:
Steroid-tainted A-Rod gets his drink on in Bahamas as Yankees stay mum — What's the highest-paid baseball player in history to do when his legacy is on the rocks? — Party in a tropical paradise, of course. — Just hours after the steroid-tainted slugger earned his nickname A-Fraud …
Mark Fainaru-Wada / ESPN:
Events that put A-Rod under scrutiny … SAN FRANCISCO — But for a combination of bad luck, bad timing and aggressive legal tactics by the Major League Baseball Players Association, alleged steroid use by Alex Rodriguez might never have been exposed. — The story that Rodriguez tested positive …
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Hardball Times
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
On Alex Rodriguez — It's always, always something with Alex Rodriguez. Someone who knows Alex very well said that to me on Saturday, and that was something who LIKES Alex. I could not agree more — controversy just sticks to him. — Barely was the hubbub dying down over the portrayal …
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Baseball Musings
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
A-Rod has destroyed game's history … In baseball, we love our numbers. And we love our heroes. And that brings us to Alex Rodriguez, a man who has committed a crime he doesn't even understand: — A crime against the once-proud history of his sport. — A-Rod didn't commit that crime alone, of course.
New York Post:
REGGIE, SCHILLING: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 103? — ALEX Rodriguez is in the center of the steroid storm, but there are 103 other names on The List. — Should Rodriguez be the only one taking this massive hit? — Yankees legend and special adviser Reggie Jackson doesn't think so and …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Heyman: The union is responsible for A-Rod's steroid predicament … When Alex Rodriguez was approached by Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts in the University of Miami gym on Thursday and presented with the bombshell that he failed baseball's 2003 steroid survey test …
ESPN:However it shakes out, A-Rod still a great player
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Clarification on Andruw — Just found out that the Dodgers get HALF of whatever he makes with the Rangers. So, if he maxes out on his incentives and receive a total salary of $1.5 million from Texas in 2009, the Dodgers will get $750,000 of that, meaning they would owe him about $2.76 million instead …
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Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers sign Andruw Jones to minor league deal — Impressed by a Jan. 26 workout with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers have agreed to terms with free-agent center fielder Andruw Jones on a minor league deal. — An official announcement is expected soon, general manager Jon Daniels said.
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Ryan Howard, Phillies agree on 3-year contract — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard just wanted to concentrate on baseball this spring. No squabbles over his contract. No daily questions about his future. — The big slugger got his wish — and a hefty raise, too.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Dayan Viciedo will get long look at White Sox camp — Cuban teen has great skills, especially as a hitter, and could make a big impact for the White Sox — The hitting credentials were impressive, but the White Sox's investment was even more breathtaking.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Royals Interested In Chad Cordero — By Tim Dierkes [February 8 at 10:31pm CST] — Word from a source around the Royals' mini-camp in Arizona is that the team is taking a long look at free agent reliever Chad Cordero. SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote recently that Cordero will be conducting a showcase on February 19th.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Tiger Pitchers, 1901-1954 — Some teams in baseball have been blessed with a multitude of splendid pitchers. Take the Braves, for instance. They spent the 1990s with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz as a terrific trio. Before that, Phil Niekro anchored their rotation for the better part of 20 years.
Nat Boyle / MLB Rumors:
Perrotto's Latest: Angels, Mets, Mariners — By Nat Boyle [February 8 at 12:59pm CST] — John Perrotto's Sunday column is up, now called On The Beat (like his Wednesday articles) instead of Every Given Sunday. — According to the article, the Angels plan to use Kendry Morales at first base …
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:More Questions and Even Less Time
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