Top News:
Jorge Arangure Jr / MLB:
Washington Nationals to fire special assistant Jose Rijo in wake of prospect age scandal — The Washington Nationals have decided to fire special assistant Jose Rijo and will shut down the team's academy in the Dominican Republic as part of a restructuring of the team's operations in Latin America …
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MLB.com:
Mr. October gives A-Rod a sitdown — Yankees legend lends advice to oft-discussed slugger — DUNEDIN, Fla. — There's nothing like a stern lecture from Mr. October to help a troubled friend focus on the priorities of life and career when enormous distractions are closing in and his reputation is crumbling.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers make two-year offer to Manny Ramirez — The deal calls for $25 million this season and $20 million for the next — providing the slugger chooses to exercise the second-year option. — Reporting from Mesa, Ariz. — The Dodgers have made another offer to Manny Ramirez …
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB.com, Dodger Thoughts, MLB FanHouse, Baseball Musings, sox1fan.com, Yahoo! Sports and Boston Globe
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Dodgers make offer to Ramirez, deal could be at hand — From what I understand, though, there WON'T be a deal tonight. The offer is a two-year, $45 million contract, with salaries of $25 million the first year and $20 million the second, but the second year is a PLAYER option so Manny …
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, Fire Ned Colletti Now, MLB Rumors, 6-4-2 and Spring Training '09
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Nothing floats past Bard — Catcher handles rusty Wakefield — Josh Bard keeps this Tim Wakefield knuckleball in front of him in the Sox' 5-2 loss to the Twins. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) — FORT MYERS, Fla. - It might have been his first tryout, at least in this incarnation …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
In '09 debut, Beckett ‘free and easy’ — Veteran righty, Francona pleased with first spring appearance — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unlike the last time he took the mound in a game for the Red Sox, Josh Beckett didn't need anti-inflammatories just to make it bearable.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
On Day 1, Mets, Ryan Church and Luis Castillo Ace Exams — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One by one, the balls landed on the outfield grass, guided from the Mets' bats to the opposite field by some sort of otherworldly force. No other explanation could suffice for Jerry Manuel …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Gardner savors unlikely home run — Competing outfielder goes deep with young son in attendance — DUNEDIN, Fla. — A Yankee belted an important home run over the fence on Wednesday at Dunedin Stadium, one that he will never forget. And it had nothing to do with Alex Rodriguez.
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:Gardner and Swisher Stand Out In Yanks' Win
Discussion:
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …
Neil Best / Watchdog:
Yankee Stadium bleacher fans will see less, pay less — Yankees COO Lonn Trost just said on WFAN that the 600 obstructed view seats in the bleachers of the new Yankee Stadium will be sold for $5 apiece, not $12! — Hmm. This is new, no? Monday Trost said they cost $12 apiece …
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Neil Best / Newsday:
Yankees lower partial-view seat price to $5 — The price of watching a fraction of Yankees games dropped to a fraction of its original cost yesterday, with obstructed-view bleacher seats abruptly falling from $12 per game to $5. — Lonn Trost, the team's chief operating officer, made the announcement during an interview on WFAN.
Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
Ozzie Guillen comes alive as manager of Chicago White Sox — TEMPE, Ariz. — As sure as the sun rises in the east and Ozzie Guillen rises in a talkative mood, it will happen. — At some point this season, Guillen will talk about retiring, going home to Miami and living the good life.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Pedro brings heat in simulated game — Free-agent starter preparing to pitch for Dominican team — Free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez is staying busy. — The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw a simulated game on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic and is on track to start …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Free-agent update: Beimel ‘offering flexibility’ — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Angels' John Lackey heads impressive list of potential free agents — Unheralded Angels ace fronts deep group of walk-year players to watch — An under-the-radar ace on a talented, deep team, John Lackey somehow has avoided attention throughout a remarkable big-league career.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Prior determined to make it back — Former star pitcher continues comeback bid with Padres — PEORIA, Ariz. — He can move almost seamlessly from clubhouse to bullpen, unnoticed by those who are busying doing the same. This suits Mark Prior perfectly fine.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
