Top News:
Baseball America:
Top 100 Prospects: 1-20 — From Matt Wieters to Gordon Beckham — See also: John Manuel and Jim Callis chat about the Top 100 at 1 p.m. ET. — This is Baseball America's 20th annual Top 100 Prospects list, our definitive annual list of the absolute best young talent in the game …
Discussion:
The Yankees, South Side Sox, MASNsports.com, Batter's Box Interactive …, Pirate Revolution, The Yankee Scrolls, Midwest Sports Fans, Mets Merized Online, AZ Snakepit, Twinkie Town, Chop-n-Change, Major League Baseball, Baseball Daily Digest Blog, Seattle Mariners, Lone Star Ball, redsminorleagues.com, Fantasy Baseball, The Bottom Line, The Schmuck Stops Here, Talking Chop, Lookout Landing, Rays of Light, MVN, My Pinstripes, River Avenue Blues, iYankees and Phillies Nation
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Rosters set for World Baseball Classic — U.S., Dominican Republic feature entire team of Major Leaguers — The final rosters of the 16 teams participating in the second World Baseball Classic were released on Tuesday evening, and they include a bevy of All-Stars.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, New Jersey Online, The Heater, A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN, Sliding Into Home and iYankees
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Oswalt, Lee among Astros in Classic — Six Houston players selected for final tournament rosters — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Houston will be well represented in the World Baseball Classic. — Three Astros players participating in Major League Spring Training, and a total of six from the organization overall …
Yankees Blog:
A-Rod expects rude welcome — Alex Rodriguez is prepared for the worst when he plays in the New York Yankees' spring training opener Wednesday. — The game against Toronto at Dunedin will be his first since admitting that he used a banned substance while playing for Texas from 2001-3.
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
The Yankees Stick It to Their Ticketholders — Eleven years ago, I banded together with four of my friends and bought a Yankees partial season-ticket package which gave us a pair of tickets to 15 games of our choice. We were instantly rewarded with the opportunity to frequent a once-in-a-generation ballclub, the 1998 Yankees.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Ramirez will take a few days off — Yankees reliever has mild bursitis in pitching shoulder — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right-hander Edwar Ramirez has mild bursitis in his pitching shoulder and does not expect to throw until the weekend. — Ramirez had to shut down a bullpen session …
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JSOnline:
Brewers Blog — The Journal Sentinel sports staff brings fans the latest news and inside dope on the Brewers — Lawrie shifts to second base — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Phoenix - I just talked with Brewers' top draft pick Brett Lawrie about his decision to switch …
Roderick Boone / On the Yankees beat:
Ramirez injury update and Wednesday's traveling roster — Just got word from the Yankees that Edwar Ramirez's MRI Monday revealed mild bursitis in his right shoulder and he's expected to be shut down until at least Friday because he's been prescribed with a minimum of three days rest.
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Elder LaRoche wants to be Buc for life — First baseman open to renewing talks to stay in Pittsburgh — BRADENTON, Fla. — Despite not being one of the players approached with a multi-year deal this offseason, first baseman Adam LaRoche continues to reaffirm his interest in staying in Pittsburgh beyond the 2009 season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Sternberg: No flexibility to add payroll — Prinicpal owner Stuart Sternberg did about 20 minutes with area media after getting a look at the new spring facility, touching on a number of subjects. — The biggest news was the he confirmed what executive VP Andrew Friedman suggested during the off-season …
MLB.com:
Statement by A's owner/managing partner Lew Wolff regarding attached letter sent to Fremont mayor & city council — “After much consideration, today we informed Mayor Wasserman and City Council members that the Oakland Athletics will cease efforts to relocate our franchise to the City of Fremont.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Bonser to have surgery on Wednesday — Twins reliever Boof Bonser will have exploratory surgery on Wednesday in St. Petersburg to try to get to the bottom of why he's having shoulder problems. — The surgery will be performed by Rays' team physician Dr. Koco Eaton.
MLB:
World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey wants baseball to come clean on doping — LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency called on Major League Baseball to be as open as possible about steroids, arguing against any premature closure of cases involving Alex Rodriguez and others.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Tomorrow's lineups and pitchers — The Red Sox play their first games of the spring season tomorrow, opening with a 1:05 p.m. contest against Boston College at City of Palms Park and capping the day with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Twins at nearby Hammond Stadium. — Below are the probable lineups and scheduled pitchers.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SOX & Dawgs, Comcast SportsNet New England, MLB.com, Over the Monster, Center Field and Keep Your Sox On
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Ron Kittle, former Chicago White Sox slugger, says he fears for safety of steroids whistle-blower Jose Canseco — 'I wonder who's going to be the first one to shoot him' — Former White Sox slugger Ron Kittle says he fears for the safety of steroids whistle-blower Jose Canseco.
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Appreciating Carlos Delgado, the lost slugger of the Steroid Era … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — I came here to Mets camp looking for the lost slugger of the Steroid Era. There had to be some power hitter out there, I figured, whose profile and legacy suffered because too many other great hitters …
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Ruiz final Phillie to sign for '09 season — Philadelphia projected for franchise-record $132.5M payroll — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies have everybody locked up for 2009. — They have reached a contract agreement with catcher Carlos Ruiz, who signed a split contract that will pay …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Greg Fieg / MLB Rumors at MLBnewsonline.com:
‘Skimming’ No Surprise to Reds Marty Brennaman — An unsubstantiated suspicion that Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden may somehow be connected with the supposed fraudulent taking of kickbacks from young player prospects “comes as no surprise to me,” says Hall-of-Fame Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
George A. King III / New York Post:
MO'S FEELING STRONG - ON AND OFF THE FIELD — TAMPA - Mariano Rivera was amped about his right shoulder. And that was prior to winning two titles in manager Joe Girardi's First Annual World Championship of Pool. — “It's feeling strong and now I am building muscle,” Rivera said of the shoulder …
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Associated Press:
Griffey could earn $3M in performance bonuses … PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. could get a total of $5 million this year in his return to Seattle if he stays healthy and fans flock to see him. — The Mariners have layered performance bonuses based upon plate appearances and attendance …
Rob Bradford / Archive:
This Is J.D. Drew: Outfielder Remains Unchanged by Boston — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The question: “How have you changed since coming to Boston?” — The answer from J.D. Drew is frustratingly non-committal - a fact that, in its own way, reveals a great deal about the outfielder. — “It's hard to say,” Drew mused.