Top News:
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Posada Talks of Pain, and Yankees Listen — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said the new soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder was nothing to worry about. — But there was enough concern within the Yankees' medical staff for Manager Joe Girardi to scratch Posada …
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WasWatching.com
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Posada scratched from today's lineup — Catcher says he tweaked shoulder while stretching Thursday — TAMPA, Fla. — Jorge Posada experienced the first setback of his rehab process on Saturday, as the Yankees scratched the designated hitter from the lineup with soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Spring Game 4: Twins at Yankees — YANKEES (2-1) — Pitching today: Joba Chamberlain followed by Igawa, Dunn, Veras, Giese and others. — TWINS (3-0) — Span RF — Punto SS — Young LF — Kubel DH — Buscher 1B — Hughes 3B — Tolbert 2B — Butera C — Comez CF
MLB:
Source: Kansas City Royals agree to deal with reliever Jose Cruz — Free-agent pitcher Juan Cruz, caught in an unusual vise of rules and economy this offseason, has agreed to a two-year deal with a third-year club option with the Kansas City Royals, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
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CBSSports.com Sports News …, Royals Review, Jorge Says No!, Bucs Dugout, MLB Rumors and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Alex Walsh / MLB Rumors:
Royals Sign Juan Cruz — By Alex Walsh [February 28 at 3:21pm CST] — 3:16pm: Buster Olney with information on each year's value: “He receives $2.25 million for 2009, $3.25 million for 2010, and a $4 million option for 2011, with a $500,000 buyout. ” Royals beat writer Dick Kaegel of MLB.com confirms it.
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River Avenue Blues
Dick Kaegel / Royals Beat:
Royals sign reliever Juan Cruz to two-year deal — Right-hander Juan Cruz, a free-agent reliever, was signed by the Royals on Saturday. — Cruz signed a two-year contract with an option for 2011. The deal was believed to be worth $2.25 million for this year, $3.25 million for 2010 …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Johan a question mark for opener — Sore left elbow could sideline Mets ace two more weeks — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If Johan Santana is unable to start the Mets' first game — and the chance of that has increased at least marginally since he developed tightness in his pitching elbow …
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24 Hours From Suicide
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Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Officials Want to Know Who Supplied Rodriguez — Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with officials from Major League Baseball on Sunday. The officials want to know who provided him with performance-enhancing drugs and whether that person had access to major league clubhouses.
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Billingsley looks sharp in first action — Dodgers righty puts in two solid innings against Mariners — PEORIA, Ariz. — It's been three months in the making, but Chad Billingsley's right arm has finally replaced his left leg as the most talked about limb on his body.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Uehara's strong debut not enough — Errors help O's fall as Marlins score three runs in third — MARLINS 3, ORIOLES 2 — Orioles at the plate: Held scoreless until the sixth inning, Baltimore got on the board when Matt Wieters doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Chris Gomez's RBI groundout.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks' Top Scout Has Eye for Talent and Ear for Nuance — TAMPA, Fla. — The flight to Japan had just begun, but Billy Eppler could not wait. As soon as the plane reached its cruising altitude and he heard the overhead chime, Eppler asked the man beside him a pressing question.
David Whitley / Orlando Sentinel:
Curt Schilling declares he wants to play for the Chicago Cubs . . . or Tampa Bay — Curt Schilling likes to break curses. The Chicago Cubs have had one for over a century. — Could it be the perfect match? — Schilling said Saturday that he'd like to pitch for the Cubs this season.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Joba has short-lived day vs. Minnesota — Yankees put up early runs, but three-run third does them in — TWINS 7, YANKEES 3 — Twins at the plate: Delmon Young put Minnesota on the board in the top of the first inning, blasting an RBI double to deep center, and Jason Kubel also stroked a ground-rule RBI double.
