Top News:
Keith Law / ESPN:
Hudson signing a great deal for Dodgers — The Dodgers' signing of Orlando Hudson is easily one of the biggest bargains of the offseason. He's a very good offensive second baseman who in the past was also a plus fielder. Hudson's defense has slipped in the past two years, particularly in 2008 …
RELATED:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Infielder Hudson signs with Dodgers — All-Star second baseman costs team first-round Draft pick — PHOENIX — Free agents are on sale, and the Dodgers picked one up on the cheap Friday when they agreed with second baseman Orlando Hudson on a one-year contract, baseball sources confirmed.
Chris Forsberg / Boston Globe:
Ortiz on Dominican trainer, shoulder — FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz spent five minutes answering questions this morning about his relationship with Angel Presinal, amid reports that Major League Baseball investigators want to talk with Alex Rodriguez about his work with the Dominican trainer.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
RELATED:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Rodriguez Bracing for Worst, but Hoping for the Best — TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez was mostly mute as he signed autographs along the left-field fence on a satellite field at the Yankees' spring training facility Friday. He signed a baseball and moved a few inches, signed another ball and then moved again.
ESPN:
A-Rod suspension? — 1050 ESPN New York has learned, it is possible that Alex Rodriguez could be suspended by the Commissioner's Office depending on what MLB investigators were to find out about A-Rod's relationship with shady trainer Angel Presinal. The Daily News reports that Presinal has traveled with Rodriguez in recent seasons.
Discussion:
ESPN.com, River Avenue Blues, Mike Silva's …, Yankees Rumors, Baseball Musings, YanksBlog.com, Sliding Into Home and NY Daily News
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Players affected by Stanford scandal — Situation impacting investments of Damon, Nady and Pelfrey — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees outfielders Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady and Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey are reportedly among those affected by the continuing Stanford Financial Group scandal.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Crede agrees to deal with Twins — Third baseman Joe Crede dives for the ball in 2005. (Tribune archive photo) — Joe Crede was a fan favorite among White Sox fans for 61/2 seasons. — Now he will be playing for one of the Sox's biggest enemies. — Crede, 30, agreed to terms Friday night …
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays news and notes — The sideshow to Thursday's pig roast was the hazing of players in their first major-league camp. They had to dress as hula girls and serve drinks. A rundown from emcee Fernando Perez: — RHP Neal Frontz: “Most ladylike. He probably throws 95, but he has the body of a middle school girl.”
Carolyn Jones / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's halt plans for ballpark village in Fremont — (02-20) 11:50 PST Fremont — Oakland Athletics officials today asked the City of Fremont to halt the planning process required to build a new stadium and move the team there, saying they want to reconsider their options.
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Rays sign Isringhausen to minor-league deal — The Rays have signed former All-Star closer Jason Isringhausen to a minor-league deal. — Isringhausen, 36, was with St. Louis last season, but did not pitch after Aug. 16 and had surgery Sept. 12 to repair a torn flexor tendon …
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: A-Rod's body of lies overshadows his body of work — TAMPA - On Tuesday Alex Rodriguez asked to be judged “from this day forward,” yet in the four days since, there is legitimate reason to judge him more harshly than ever. — More and more he looks like a liar as well as a steroid cheat …
Neil Best / Watchdog:
ESPN's Rick Reilly generally is not a big fan of blogs — I spoke to Rick Reilly Thursday about ESPN's “Mt. Rushmore of Sports” feature, as well as many other topics, such as his charitable “Nothing but Nets” campaign, his transition from SI to ESPN, the differences between print and TV and, oh, almost forgot . . . blogs.
