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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Home run leader Griffey returning to Mariners after 9 years — PEORIA, Ariz. — It was as difficult a decision as he'd ever had to make in baseball. — In the end, Ken Griffey Jr. stuck to what he said 18 months ago and agreed to a one-year contract, worth about $2 million plus incentives, with the Mariners for the 2009 season.
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Ken Griffey chooses to return to Seattle Mariners — Ken Griffey Jr. is returning to Seattle. — Griffey — The future Hall of Famer informed the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that he's returning to the city where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a perennial All-Star in the 1990s.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Griffey chooses to return to Mariners — Future Hall of Famer comes back to first big league team — PEORIA, Ariz. — Ken Griffey Jr. is coming home. — The future Hall of Fame outfielder who began his Major League career with the Mariners 20 years ago has decided to return to Seattle.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien:
Waiting for Griffey's arrival.... Editor's note: Please go the latest blog posting and comment here. We've had to shut off commenting here because of technical problems. We're working on them. Don't blame Dave. — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — And so we begin Day 4 of the Junior Watch …
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Kasten: “I am angry. We've been defrauded.” — For about 20 minutes today, Washington Nationals team president Stan Kasten spoke to the media about the false identity of the prospect formerly known as Esmailyn Gonzalez. In the coming minutes, as you refresh this blog, a transcript of what he said will grow.
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Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Stan Kasten and the Player to Be Named Later — Stan Kasten just completed his conference call with reporters about the Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez mess. With about a dozen reporters crammed into a small office on the third floor of Space Coast Stadium, and with a few others on the line …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Nationals' pride takes another hit — The Esmailyn Gonzalez story wasn't a huge shock to people in the industry who had previously questioned Gonzalez's age and criticized the Nationals for giving him a $1.4 million signing bonus, but I don't think anyone believed that Gonzalez was four years older …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Jeter Declares His Independence From the Steroids Era — TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter subtly expressed his support for Alex Rodriguez on Wednesday as Rodriguez grapples with possible repercussions from admitting to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. But Jeter was much more forceful …
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Teixeira to bat third; Jeter, other players on A-Rod — Joe Girardi announced that Mark Teixeira will hit third this season and Alex Rodriguez fourth. Alex did not do interviews today, but Teixeira said: “I'm going to take my cue from Joe and Alex. Whatever they want to do is fine.”
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:Derek Jeter ‘disappointed’ but supportive of Alex Rodriguez
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
Last Section of Shea Stadium Is Torn Down — Shea Stadium, the site of the Mets' two World Series victories, their many seasons of futility and a few historic concerts, met the fate of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds on Wednesday morning. At 11:21 a.m., a demolition crew pulled down the final section …
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T.J. Quinn / MLB:
Sources: MLB wants A-Rod to sit down with its investigators — Alex Rodriguez isn't finished answering questions yet. — Major League Baseball will ask the disgraced slugger to meet with its investigators in the coming weeks to further explain his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Associated Press:
Red Sox owner renews plea for MLB salary cap … FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is renewing his call for a baseball salary cap. — He says he thinks all owners would support an “enlightened” salary cap to improve competitive balance and that players might agree.
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Aybar deal done, could be worth $4.525 M — The Rays officially announced the signing of INF Willy Aybar to a two-year deal with a 2011 option that could be worth $4.525 million. — “We've had the chance over the last year to really get to know Willy and we feel he brings a lot of our club,” executive VP Andrew Friedman said.
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Bourn turns over new leaf in 2009 — Speedster more comfortable, set to raise walks, lower K's — KISSIMMEE, Fla — Michael Bourn doesn't plan to dwell on anything that happened during the 2008 season, and to prove that he's truly wiped the slate clean, he began Spring Training this year …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Diamond Leung / PE.com:
Dodgers: Torre doesn't expect to manage after 2010 — Joe Torre is saying that he expects the 2010 season to be his final season of managing. “That's going to be the emotional one,” he said of spring training next season. “I don't envision myself going beyond this contract managing.”
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Melky won't take part in Classic — Youngster wants to win center-field job over playing in tournament — TAMPA, Fla. — One of the few criticisms of the World Baseball Classic is its timing. Held in March every third year, the Classic forces regulars to work their way into game shape quicker …
Dallas Morning News:
Andruw Jones hopes to revive career with Texas Rangers — SURPRISE, Ariz. - The drive from Duluth, Ga., to the Surprise Recreation Campus stretches nearly 2,000 miles and takes the average motorists a few days to complete. — Andruw Jones made the trek earlier this week …
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