Top News:
ESPN.com:
Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers complete $45M, 2-year deal … LOS ANGELES — The winter of discontent in Mannywood is over. — Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers officially agreed Wednesday on a $45 million, two-year contract that keeps him with the NL West champions.
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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.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
How Manny's deal finally got done — L.A. expects Ramirez to commit himself, become ‘a full-fledged Dodger’ … “We want to say yes.” — With those five words, uttered over the phone Monday night by Scott Boras to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, it was over. — Well, not totally over.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:All's well that ends well — Dodgers buzzing about Manny's return
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod's teammates unfazed by words — Damon sees comment as innocent slip; Jeter remains mum — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When word of Alex Rodriguez's gushing praise for the Mets' Jose Reyes traveled back to Yankees camp, Johnny Damon didn't wince. — Before leaving the Dominican Republic club …
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Yanks' Best Athlete: Cody Ransom? — ORLANDO, Fla. - You might think Mariano Rivera is the best athlete on the Yankees. Or Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia, Andrew Brackman, Austin Jackson or Johnny Damon. But you would be wrong. — At least, that's according to Damon …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Spring Game 8: Yankees at Braves — YANKEES — Pitching today: Ian Kennedy followed by Andrew Brackman, J.B. Cox, Dan Giese, Kei Igawa and Mark Melancon. — BRAVES — Anderson CF — Escobar SS — Johnson 2B — Kotchman 1B — Francoeur RF — Heyward LF — Infante 3B
Discussion:
The Voice of Yankees Universe, Yanks and more, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … and MY BASEBALL BIAS
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
1B prospect glad Teixeira didn't join Red Sox — FORT MYERS, Fla.—Lars Anderson paid little attention to the Red Sox pursuit of Mark Teixeira even though the talented prospect's position would have been tied up for a long time if the team succeeded. — The 21-year-old first baseman's name …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Inbox: Can Tazawa jump to Majors? — Plus questions about Beckett's health, Bay and the future at third base — Recognizing that there is still a lot of baseball to play in Spring Training, what do you think the chances are that Junichi Tazawa could pitch his way onto the Major League club without ever spending a day in the Minors?
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
MIKE PIAZZA: HIS BAT AND HIS BACK — Baseball writers spend a lot of time in press boxes together, and the close and frequent proximity does not always foster positive relationships. For example, Joel Sherman of the New York Post and I do not have any kind of relationship. We have not talked for years.
Bombers Beat:
Yankees notes: Rivera to throw bullpen Thursday — Remember the Yankees notebooks? Yeah, so do I. Today presented a lot of tidbits that don't really warrant separate stories, so I'm bringing the format back. Something tells me I'll be doing this from time to time.
MLB:
James Shields to start opener for AL champion Tampa Bay Rays — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Rays manager Joe Maddon didn't wait to watch Tampa Bay's best pitchers in spring training. He picked right-hander James Shields on Wednesday as the team's Opening Day starter. — Shields
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies win B game against Arizona Diamondbacks — Attention fans: The good news is that the Rockies won today. The bad news? It doesn't count in the standings, as their 5-0 victory came in a B game against Arizona Diamondbacks' minor leaguers, save for pitcher Jon Garland and catcher Miguel Montero.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Yanks muster little offense vs. Braves — Damon's triple among lone highlights; Kennedy allows two runs — BRAVES 3, YANKEES 2 — Yankees at the plate: Johnny Damon's fifth-inning single plated right-handed pitcher Dan Giese, who reached on a single to right off Todd Redmond.
Discussion:
New York Times
MLB:
Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer to seek second opinion on elbow — PHOENIX — Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer will get a second opinion on his sore right elbow, and it was uncertain whether he'd be ready to begin the season. — “His Opening Day start is definitely in jeopardy …
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:A's, Garciaparra ready to finalize deal
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Devil Fingers / Driveline Mechanics:
A Stupid Position Battle: Yankees Right Field, or, How Much Better Would the Yankees Be With Manny Instead of The Swish? — OK, I wasn't planning on posting something like this, and maybe the issue is just that I like Nick Swisher, and blah blah blah. But while I no longer live in New York …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Johan says he wants Opening Day start … PORT ST. LUCIE - Johan Santana wants the ball Opening Day in Cincinnati, even if a more conservative schedule had been plotted by his pitching coach. — Jerry Manuel plans to comply with his ace's wishes, although Manuel maintains it's ultimately the manager's call.
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