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Manny Update / MLB:
Torre: Negotiations with Manny are ongoing … PHOENIX — Dodgers manager Joe Torre isn't concerned that Manny Ramirez might show up late for spring training — just as long as he shows up. — Negotiations with Ramirez were continuing as the Dodgers opened camp Saturday …
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Locker awaits Manny at Dodgers camp — Slugger's free-agent limbo doesn't sour club's first workouts — PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez stands out, even in absentia. — There are 70 nameplates above lockers in the Dodgers' new clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale and one locker without a nameplate, in the corner next to Rafael Furcal.
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MLB Rumors
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians ink Graffanino to Minors deal — Veteran infielder to arrive at Spring Training camp on Monday — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Position players officially reported to the Player Development Complex on Sunday, but one guy will be a day late. — The Indians have signed infielder Tony Graffanino …
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MLB Rumors
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Q and A: Scott Servais by David Laurila — Scott Servais … David Laurila: How has the Rangers' player development system changed since you arrived here? — Scott Servais: We're going into our fourth year here, and I think we've definitely moved things in the right direction.
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Getting Warmer — Last week Joe Girardi grabbed the top spot on the less-than-coveted list of managers most likely to be fired in '09. He acknowledged that he's heading the list while chatting with a group of reporters in the wake of Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitting that he failed …
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Bluebird Banter
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Alex could use The Boss' help — A sunflower seeds bucket rested in the middle of the Yankees' clubhouse yesterday, a blemish on the formerly palatial ground that is George M. Steinbrenner Field. — The ceiling had been leaking Friday, a steady drip, drip, drip into that bucket …
Jerry Green / Detroit News:
Cheaters take the joy out of baseball — The date was April 14, 1936, and it is etched in my memory. — “Baseball season starts today,” the father said to the son, exercising a precious part of Americana. — This is the rite of passage from father to son, or daughter …
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crashburnalley.com
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Manuel speaks — Here's a summary of Jerry Manuel's introductory address: — * Manuel revealed that Livan Hernandez has signed with the Mets. He's on a minor-league deal, with a base salary of $1 million if he makes the club. — * Luis Castillo may bat leadoff for the Mets.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Wrapping up Day 1 of camp — Now that the workout is over, here are a few notes and impressions: — · Hideki Matsui took batting practice for the first time since his knee surgery and looked good. At one point he cracked three in a row into the right-field stands.
New York Post:
JAYS MAY DEAL HALLADAY AT DEADLINE; LOSING TEAMS WILL LOOK TO UNLOAD — TAMPA - Camps were opening around baseball and the offseason was not yet done. Near-certain Hall of Famers such as Tom Glavine and Ken Griffey Jr. were nearing jobs while Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez …
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Mets Merized Online
Peter Abraham / The Journal News:
Rivera reveals he pitched in pain in '08 — TAMPA, Fla. - Mariano Rivera turned 39 in November, and his receding hairline is getting dangerously close to the bald spot on top of his head. This season will be his 15th with the Yankees, and it has been nearly 20 years since he signed his first professional contract.
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NY Daily News, Newsday, New York Times, River Avenue Blues, Heartland Pinstripes, BASEBALL HOT CORNER and Pinstripe Alley
John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:
Rowland-Smith passes on Team Australia in WBC — Ryan Rowland-Smith has decided to stay with the Mariners in full pursuit of a job in Seattle's starting rotation rather than pitch for Team Australian in the World Baseball Classic. — Seattle's left-handed starter would have liked nothing better …
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Yahoo! Sports
Michael Lewis / New York Times:
The No-Stats All-Star — Out of Duke University. . . . A 6-foot-8-inch forward. . . . He had more or less admitted to me that this part of his job left him cold. 'It's the same thing every day,' he said, as he struggled to explain how a man on the receiving end of the raging love …
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SportsJustice, The Sports Economist, Tennis Diary, Al's Ramblings, Deadspin, Will Wilson and Dan Shanoff
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Sources: Braves making late push for Griffey — That Ken Griffey Jr.-to-Seattle reunion isn't a foregone conclusion just yet. — Two baseball sources told ESPN.com on Saturday that the Atlanta Braves are making a late play for Griffey and have begun discussing money with his agent.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Braves interested in signing Griffey Jr.
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MLB Rumors
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres not shopping for pitchers — San Diego has numerous candidates for back end of rotation — SAN DIEGO — General manager Kevin Towers said Saturday that the team isn't actively talking to any free-agent pitchers and he doesn't anticipate making a deal anytime soon to help shore up the back end of the starting rotation.
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MLB Rumors
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