Top News:
MLB.com:
Dodgers, Manny agree to two-year deal — Long negotiation process ends with $45 million contract — PHOENIX — The Dodgers have agreed in principal on a two-year, $45 million deal to re-sign free agent left fielder Manny Ramirez, a baseball source said on Wednesday morning.
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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.
ESPN.com:
Los Angeles Dodgers finalize deal with Manny Ramirez — After months of back-and-forth negotiations, a meeting Wednesday between Manny Ramirez, his agents and Los Angeles Dodgers management has culminated in a deal for the slugger. — Ramirez — Ramirez and the Dodgers have agreed …
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Manny Ramirez returns for L.A. encore — Buzz up! — GLENDALE &Ariz. - Manny Ramirez, the wandering personality and dynamic hitter who bullied his way out of Boston last summer before leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to the National League championship series, agreed to a deal with the Dodgers …
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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Dave Scheiber / St. Petersburg Times:Yankees' Jeter adjusts quickly to facing teammates with World Baseball Classic squad
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Dr. Michael Kaplan / ESPN.com:Alex Rodriguez had hip problems last year
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Associated Press
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:A-Rod: I want Reyes on Yankees
Discussion:
New York Post, Newsday, River Avenue Blues, The Yankee Universe, Baseball & The Boogie Down, The Voice of Yankees Universe, New Stadium Insider, MLB FanHouse, A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN, The Fowl Balls, Bronx Baseball Daily, The Musings and Prophecies …, Generation Third and It is about the money, stupid
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Johan says he wants Opening Day start — PORT ST. LUCIE - Johan Santana tossed a 46-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and then predicted he would take the ball on Opening Day in Cincinnati on April 6. — “All plans have to have room for modification,” said pitching coach Dan Warthen …
Discussion:
The Back Page, Fox Sports, Mets Merized Online, The Mets Are Better Than Sex and MetsBlog.com
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Johan shooting to pitch Opening Day — Mets ace tosses 46-pitch bullpen session Wednesday — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — After throwing 46 pitches in his seventh bullpen session of the spring and speaking with his pitching coach and a member of the media relations department …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
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 …
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Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Kasten: “I'm a fan of continuity” — I am gonna flesh out a longer news story about the Rizzo promotion. (The linguistics of this are tricky: Is he the interim GM? No. Acting GM? That's about right.) But in the meantime, here is a transcript of what Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo both said this morning...
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:
Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB.com, Baseball Musings, iYankees, Sliding Into Home, Heartland Pinstripes and The Yankee Universe
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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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Craig Calcaterra / Hardball Times:Doing the Digging George Mitchell Didn't
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Good preparation helps Tampa Bay Rays backup catcher Shawn Riggans grow into role — Shawn Riggans spent much of his free time last season taking notes and studying film. — Times] — PORT CHARLOTTE — Dioner Navarro puts it simply: Shawn Riggans “loves to talk.”
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DRaysBay
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's, Garciaparra ready to finalize deal — Nomar Garciaparra will be Oakland's second high-profile acquisition this week when his one-year deal is made official. — A source close to Garciaparra told The Chronicle on Tuesday that the veteran infielder has agreed to terms with the A's and that the deal will be announced Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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 …
