Top News:
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Sources: Boras asked Dodgers to increase offer to $55 million — And that, according to two well-placed sources with knowledge of the situation, is where the whole thing broke down. This sources also said Boras never openly objected to any proposal by the Dodgers of deferred money …
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Details holding back Manny deal — LA, slugger still apart on how $45 million pact would pay out — PEORIA, Ariz. — A Friday noon PT deadline came and went and a deal to sign Manny Ramirez still hadn't been accomplished, the agent for the free-agent left-fielder said.
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phillies release veteran Eaton — Right-hander has $9 million remaining on contract — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies released right-handed pitcher Adam Eaton on Friday. — Eaton, who makes $8.5 million this season, plus $500,000 on a club option for 2010, was not a candidate to win the fifth spot in the Phillies' rotation.
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David Murphy / Philly.com:
Garciaparra no longer an option; Victorino in WBC; Eaton reaction — One more note from this morning — general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Nomar Garciaparra is no longer an option for the Phillies. — It is the Phillies' belief that Garciaparra has narrowed his options to either the Oakland Athletics or retirement.
Scott Lauber / delawareonline:
Phillies release starting pitcher Eaton — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies today released starting pitcher Adam Eaton, who is the final year of a three-year, $24.5 million contract. The Phillies will have to pay him approximately $8.6 million this season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
Source: A-Rod has Sunday meeting with MLB … NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with Major League Baseball officials on Sunday to discuss his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas.
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A.J. Perez / USA Today:
Feds to appeal evidence ruling; Bonds case delayed — Federal prosecutors have told the lawyers for Barry Bonds that they will appeal a ruling that excluded much of the evidence seized during the BALCO raids, according to motion filed Friday afternoon. — “On the eve of Mr. Bonds' trial …
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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Mark Fainaru-Wada / MLB:
Start of Barry Bonds' perjury trial faces lengthy postponement — SAN FRANCISCO — And so the Barry Bonds saga rages on. With little end in sight. — What once seemed like closure on the horizon — a perjury trial for baseball's home run king set to begin Monday, nearly six years …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Villone signed to minor deal — PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets have signed former Yankees left-handed reliever Ron Villone to a minor-league contract. Villone, 39, pitched for the Bombers from 2006-07 before going 1-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 74 games with the Cardinals last season.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres sign 29 to one-year contracts — Kouzmanoff among those to ink deals, will make nearly $440,000 — PEORIA, Ariz. — The Padres took care of a little financial business on Friday when they signed 29 players to contracts for the 2009 season. — The pitchers who agreed to one-year deals …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Bale's blood work shows irregularities — Pitcher returns to KC for evaluation; Guillen progressing nicely — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Royals pitcher John Bale has returned to Kansas City for tests on his thyroid after irregularities were noted in blood work during a physical examination.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Percival on mend, eyes mound date — Rays closer feels ‘great,’ says he could pitch in a game right now — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — If anybody understands it's not how you open, it's how you close, Troy Percival is the guy. — After 13 Major League seasons, Percival knows the drill.
Discussion:
MVN
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Frozen by fraud, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Darren Oliver feels for others — TEMPE, Ariz. — Pitcher Darren Oliver made a wise professional decision this winter when he accepted a salary arbitration offer from the Los Angeles Angels and parlayed it into a one-year, $3.665 million contract amid a weak market for free agents.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Spring Game 3: Yankees at Twins — YANKEES (2-0) — TWINS (2-0) — Pitching for the Twins: Scott Baker, Brian Duesing, Kevin Mulvey, Ben Julianel, Bob Keppel, Jason Jones. — Pitching today: Ian Kennedy followed by Eric Hacker, Andrew Brackman, Wilikin De La Rosa, Anthony Claggett and Michael Dunn.
