Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: GARCIA, MANUEL, CHURCH — 1. There is an assumption that Freddy Garcia is on track to be the No. 5 starter with the Mets. But not so fast. The early read in camp is that Garcia is still tight and not fully unleashing his surgically repaired right arm yet.
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David Lennon / Hartford Courant:
Daniel Murphy will be Mets' everyday left-fielder
Daniel Murphy will be Mets' everyday left-fielder
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
School's out for the Yankees — Joe Girardi just called off the workout. The entire team and coaching staff will instead head to a local pool hall for a tournament and lunch. — With games starting Wednesday, Girardi decided to give his team a break and build some chemistry at the same time.
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Yankees Blog:
Girardi cancels practice for pool tournament — TAMPA — Joe Girardi says he hasn't spoken to Tom Coughlin about developing stronger relationships with players. — However, Girardi is borrowing a page from Coughlin's playbook in his second year at the helm of the Yankees after the rookie season …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Melissa Segura / Sports Illustrated:
Feds expanding probe of GM Bowden … A federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to baseball prospects from Latin America is looking at Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden as far back as 1994, when he was GM of the Cincinnati Reds, according to a baseball executive familiar with the investigation.
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Chicago Tribune:
Ex-Sox official Wilder suffers major change of fortune — David Wilder was a promising baseball executive with realistic ambitions of running a team after apprenticeships with four organizations, including the Cubs and the White Sox. — As senior director of player personnel for the White Sox …
ESPN.com:
Washington Nationals release lefty Odalis Perez after he's a no-show — The Washington Nationals released left-hander Odalis Perez on Monday after he was a no-show at the team's training camp Sunday, the last day for players to report without facing the possibility of disciplinary action.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Left-hander did not report to Spring Training over contract issue — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals released left-hander Odalis Perez on Monday morning because of his failure to report to Spring Training. — Perez signed a Minor League deal with the Nationals on Feb. 5.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Coke to pitch out of the bullpen — I stopped Joe Girardi in the clubhouse today as I wanted to get some clarification on how they plan to use Phil Coke. — The verdict is ... reliever. — “He's a guy we see being able to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen.
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Future Shock — Yankees Top 11 Prospects — Five-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Just Missed: Brad Suttle, 3B; Kelvin De Leon, RF; Wilkins De La Rosa, LHP — Ranking Challenges: It's a very tough system to rank from top to bottom. Montero comes with positional questions …
Discussion:
Pending Pinstripes, BASEBALL HOT CORNER, WasWatching.com, The Chuck Knoblog and River Avenue Blues
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Mulder could be back with A's — Could Mark Mulder be one of several potential additions the A's make before the end of the spring? — After several years of shoulder injuries, the former A's starter is pitching in Arizona. And after many sessions with a flexibility expert …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
The truth strikes out — The next great baseball moment probably will come late in the 2013 season, when Alex Rodriguez hits home run No. 763 and is greeted at home plate, one cheater to another, by Barry Bonds. — Greater still would be if that moment occurs in Arlington.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Union boss Fehr: '03 tests don't taint all players … JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Baseball union head Donald Fehr rejects the suggestion many players are under suspicion because 104 of them tested positive for drug use in 2003, including Alex Rodriguez. — The testing was confidential until Rodriguez's results were leaked to a reporter.
Michael Grange / Globe and Mail:
Martin's learning curve — PHOENIX — The old catcher summoned the young one into the tunnel to deliver a stern reminder. Run it out. Lead by example. Play the right way. — The young catcher listened and then he blew up. Out came the frustration. The sore knee.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves sign Garret Anderson to one-year deal — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves have finally added a veteran bat to their outfield, left-handed slugger Garret Anderson. — The team finalized a one-year contract worth about $2.5 million with the free agent on Sunday, according to a person familiar with negotiations.
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