Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Alex Rodriguez May Miss W.B.C. With Injury — JUPITER, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez has an injured hip and may not play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, according to a person in baseball who has spoken to Rodriguez. — Rodriguez is expected to fly to Colorado on Wednesday …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
A-Rod: I want Reyes on Yankees — Alex Rodriguez told reporters in Jupiter today that he wished Jose Reyes played for the Yankees. Uh-oh. — He later then sent word through a team PR man that his comments shouldn't be taken as a shot at Derek Jeter. But of course it'll still be seen that way.
Arthur Staple / Newsday:
A-Rod: I wish the Yankees had Jose Reyes — Even when Alex Rodriguez is trying to stay positive, things seem to turn out wrong. — A-Rod paid Mets shortstop Jose Reyes a high compliment today after the Dominican Republic's first exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic …
Dave Scheiber / St. Petersburg Times:
Yankees' Jeter adjusts quickly to facing teammates with World Baseball Classic squad — TAMPA — It was odd seeing Derek Jeter in a red ballcap and gray uniform Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field — and playing against the New York Yankees. But for Jeter, helping Team USA defeat …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
MLB.com:
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez to visit hip specialist — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will fly to Vail, Colo., on Wednesday, and will be examined and evaluated by Dr. Marc Phillipon, a hip specialist at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic. — After experiencing right hip tightness …
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: Manny, Dodgers agree — ORLANDO, Florida — Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers finally reached common ground in their negotiations, according to a source close to the talks. — Ramirez — After multiple failed attempts, Ramirez and the Dodgers agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal on Tuesday.
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Drew Silva / MLB Rumors:
Dodgers, Manny Getting Closer — 11:08pm: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times says the Dodgers and Manny have “agreed on the general parameters of a contract,” the terms Heyman mentioned. — 10:22pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman confirms that Manny is headed to L.A. to meet with McCourt.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Talking pitching with Phil Hughes — We interrupt news on A-Rod with some baseball: — If you watched the game today, you may have noticed that Phil Hughes had a nice, tight curveball. It looked different than the curve he used to throw and I asked him about it.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, MLB.com, Sliding Into Home, iYankees, The Yankee Universe and Heartland Pinstripes
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Joel Sherman / Mets Blog:
The Mets' handling of Johan — If you are a regular reader of Hardball (thank you), then you know that yesterday I recommended that the Mets not obsess on having Johan Santana start Opening Day; that the key item was to have him for 30-plus starts, not prioritize one start in early April against the Reds.
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:No Santana for Opening Day — The Mets finally came to terms …
Discussion:
Surfing the Mets, Mets Blog, Mets Fever, Hardball, Mets Geek, Hot Foot and The 'Ropolitans
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Rizzo to take bulk of Nats' duties — Assistant GM will work with Kasten while GM post remains vacant — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals decided Wednesday that their general manager's position will remain vacant for the foreseeable future. — Team president Stan Kasten will remain the person in charge …
Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Phils still on the hunt for lefthanded reliever — CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies continue to monitor the free-agent market for lefthanded relievers and have kept open lines of communication with Will Ohman, his agent, Page Odle, said yesterday. — Odle said the Phillies made an offer last week, though he would not characterize it.
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Randy Galloway / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Joaquin Arias might be Texas Rangers' sleeper at short — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Maybe it doesn't exactly belong in the urban myth category, but I've heard it repeatedly that Jose Reyes, the young and lights-out shortstop of the New York Mets, was supposed to be a member of the Texas Rangers five years ago.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs Kerry-ing on — MESA, Ariz. — Carlos Zambrano said he felt the void in the Cubs' clubhouse on the first day of spring training. — There was Ryan Dempster, but no Kerry Wood to the left of Dempster's locker. — “It's hard to let it go,” Zambrano said.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Matthew Artus / NJ.com:
Pelfrey's Chances on Beating the Verducci Effect — With various Mets exiting for their World Baseball Classic rosters, one of the storylines left to follow this Spring Training for the Mets is what Mike Pelfrey can do for an encore. After a rough start, Pelfrey settled down and filled gaping holes left …
Discussion:
Mets Geek
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Ramirez wants to finish with Cubs — If he does, he could rank with club hitting greats — MESA, Ariz. — In any discussion regarding the greatest sluggers in Cubs history, the names likely to trip off the tongue are the old standbys. — There's Ernie Banks, Hack Wilson, Sammy Sosa …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
Stuck in the shadows — ONE TIME, the former major league pitcher recalled, the package that arrived in the mail looked like it contained pastries. The label even said something like Johnny's Bakery on it. Puzzled, he opened the box. Sure enough, he found cookies inside.
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Hardball Times
