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 …
RELATED:
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Manny Being Stupid — If you haven't heard, Scott Boras and Manny Ramirez have rejected the Dodgers latest offer of a two year, $45 million contract due to the amount of deferred money in the deal. They rejected the offer despite the fact that it reportedly guarantees them $25 million …
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.
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 …
RELATED:
Lester Munson / ESPN:
Appeal is smart move in Bonds trial — Instead of going forward with a perjury and obstruction of justice trial against Barry Bonds on Monday, federal prosecutors in San Francisco decided Friday to appeal rulings that excluded much of their evidence. Last week, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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
RELATED:
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
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 …
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.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
RELATED:
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.
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Santana pushed back again; Mets lose, 9-8 — Here's some news and notes in the wake of the Mets' 9-8 loss to the Cardinals today at Tradition Field. — Johan Santana already had been scratched from today's start against Italy because of tightness in his left elbow and now it appears …
Associated Press:
Schmidt concentrates on mechanics, not medicals — PHOENIX (AP) Jason Schmidt had a wild time on the mound Friday. — Trying to secure a spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation after missing 1 1/2 seasons due to shoulder operations, Schmidt threw only 10 of 21 pitches for strikes Friday in a morning …
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yanks young pitchers learned vital lesson — TAMPA, Fla. - If each Yankees starter exits spring training healthy, Phil Hughes will be the ace of Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's staff - with Ian Kennedy probably following him in rotation. — That's a significant step back from last year …
RELATED:
