Top News:
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Family matters for White Sox's Mark Buehrle, who is considering retirement after 2011 season — So much so, that Buehrle may retire after 2011 season — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mark Buehrle arrived for his 10th training camp with the White Sox looking ready to go, as always.
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La Velle / Twins Insider:
Believe it not, this is about JUAN CRUZ — I touched on this in my story for Monday's ink-on-paper editions. — A new wrinkle has come up that could make it easier for the Twins acquire someone like righthander Juan Cruz, who's considered one of the best set up men of the free agent class …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A few things . . . Julio Lugo fields ground balls with the shortstops Monday. (Chris Forsberg / Boston.com) — FORT MYERS, Fla. — A few things from the clubhouse before players took the field . . . - Julio Lugo said this morning he'll wait and see how things transpire by the end …
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Calm before the A-Rod storm — TAMPA, Fla. — There was no escaping the sense of peace at Legends Field on Sunday morning, where the pitchers and catchers reminded fans why it's so easy to fall in love with spring training. — The concession stands were closed, but admission into the ballpark …
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Le Anne Schreiber / ESPN:
Gammons/A-Rod was no Frost/Nixon — After a nearly year-long retreat into the shadows, the squirrelly topic of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball darted into view several times in the past few weeks, before finally bursting onto center screen.
Associated Press:
Ortiz: Give players who test positive a year ban … FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — David Ortiz says players who test positive for steroids should be suspended from baseball for the whole season. — The Red Sox designated hitter says the way to clean up the game is through testing and not by taking players to court.
Associated Press:
Hampton leaves camp with irregular heartbeat … KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Astros left-hander Mike Hampton is returning to Houston to get treatment for an irregular heartbeat. — Hampton was to be examined Monday by team physician Dr. Jim Muntz and will undergo a procedure that corrects his heartbeat with an electrical current.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Ludwick close to deal with Cards — Outfielder cancels plans to attend arbitration hearing — JUPITER, Fla. — Ryan Ludwick expects to have a contract finalized with the Cardinals in the immediate future. The outfielder is so confident that he has canceled plans to fly to Arizona …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
MLB.com:
Mets launch Online Ticket Registration for Opening Day at Citi Field Tomorrow, February 17 at 10 A.M on Mets.Com and Losmets.Com — Season Tickets Featuring Opening Day on Sale Now at Mets.com and LosMets.com — The New York Mets today announced the launch of an online registration …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
On the Mets beat:
2009 Mets rotation — As of today, with everyone healthy, this is the Mets' rotation to start the season: — 1. Johan Santana — 2. Mike Pelfrey — 3. Oliver Perez — 4. John Maine — 5. Tim Redding — Pitching coach Dan Warthen explained that Pelfrey's better numbers …
Discussion:
The 'Ropolitans
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Zimmermann Eyes More Than Just a Spot in Camp — A month and a half ago, Jordan Zimmermann started to get a bit nervous. The Washington Nationals still hadn't invited him to big league camp. For all of his recent acclaim — Baseball America named him the organization's top prospect …
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
Russ Smith / SPLICETODAY.COM:
INTERVIEW: Peter Schmuck — Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camp this week, so Splice talked with one of Baltimore's longest-standing baseball writers about his predictions for the season and his wallowing team. — The Baltimore Orioles, once considered a first-class Major League …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Peter King / Sports Illustrated:
Peter King: What's next for Favre … We've got a lot going on for what's supposed to be a dead time — Michael Vick's on the block while in the cell block, Julius Peppers is trying to politely talk himself out of Carolina, Alex Rodriguez is lying about Selena Roberts (which enrages me) …
Maury Brown / MLB Rumors:
Down the Rabbit Hole: Looking at 2009 Free Agency — By Maury Brown [February 16 at 10:50am CST] — With Spring Training arriving, we can start to peel back the layers of the onion we call free agency and look at some trends. To begin with, I started by taking a look at total spending in the FA market this season.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yankees' Hughes, Kennedy looking to rebound — TAMPA, Fla. - Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy came to Tampa last February with their names penciled into the Yankees' starting rotation. — But injuries and ineffectiveness combined to ruin both their seasons; they went a combined 0-8 with a 7.45 ERA …
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Pudge prefers Mets, Marlins, Astros — Veteran All-Star catcher declares himself fitter than he's been in years — Ivan Rodriguez, the 14-time All-Star catcher who remains an unsigned free agent, said on Sunday that his options might have come down to three teams — or none.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: Mo, Joba and Manny/A-Rod — 1. In researching this column about whether Joba Chamberlain should start or relieve, I realized something about Mariano Rivera: He not only has been the best reliever ever, he also is among the most durable. It means the Yankees have had his excellence a lot each season, and for a long time.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Clubhouse a quiet place without Smoltz … LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Ghosts of Cy Youngs Past still hang out at their same old lockers in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse. Bobby Cox still sees them, hears them, laughs when he looks at them. — The manager has had to get used to life without Tom Glavine.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols hopes to end career in St. Louis — Slugger talks about contract, club's direction with reporters Sunday — JUPITER, Fla. — In a lengthy and wide-ranging conversation with reporters on Sunday, Albert Pujols voiced optimism about his team's chances and confidence in its direction …
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