Top News:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees talking to Damon about return — While the Yankees' primary focus remains pitching, they have been communicating with free agent Johnny Damon about a possible return to the Yankees for 2011, Newsday has learned. — Four sources said that Damon and the Yankees were talking about a role …
Discussion:
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …, HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily, NESN.com, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Interested In Johnny Damon — The Yankees are interested in bringing Johnny Damon back to New York and are discussing a potential reunion with him, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff. Davidoff reports that the Yankees are open to bringing the 37-year-old back as a part-time left fielder and DH.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Adrian Gonzalez a rock of faith in all facets — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — Last of a three-part series introducing Red Sox [team stats] fans to the team's new first baseman. — SAN DIEGO — If he does nothing else during the next eight seasons with the Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez is going to inspire faith.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Adrian Gonzalez: A man and his word — When things looked bleak, it was trust that sealed the deal between Gonzalez, Red Sox … LA JOLLA, Calif. — There was little doubt in Adrian Gonzalez's mind that they were meant to be together, the skinny high school baseball player with the grand ambitions …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Greinke's light always shone through — OAKLAND — A ray of sunshine zapped through the dark cloud that hovers over the Royals these days. His name is Zack Greinke. — Greinke pitched five solid innings in his highly-anticipated Major League debut on Saturday, providing some fresh hope …
Discussion:
Brew Beat
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Yanks hope for Andy Pettitte's return — NEW YORK — Not only are the Yankees hoping that Andy Pettitte returns, they are dreaming about it. — “I go to sleep every night hoping that Andy Pettitte makes his decision to come back and pitch another year,” Yankees team president Randy Levine said Wednesday on 1050 ESPN New York.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Brian Cashman needs a new plan to help the Yankees rotation …
Brian Cashman needs a new plan to help the Yankees rotation …
Discussion:
New York Times and BronxBanterBlog.com
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, The LoHud Yankees Blog, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, JSOnline and NESN.com
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Driver who killed Nick Adenhart sentenced to 51 years-to-life in prison — Andrew Gallo, the driver who killed Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart has been sentenced to 51 years-to-life in prison. — In addition to Adenhart, Gallo killed Adenhart's friends Courtney Frances Stewart and Henry Pearson …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Eiland excited by opportunity to help Rays, beat Yanks — Dave Eiland is excited by his opportunity with the Rays as a special assistant, intrigued by the new duties and responsibilities he'll have in scouting and player development and pleased to return home, to the area where he grew …
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Crawford thanks Rays with lunch — Carl Crawford left the Rays, but he didn't want to leave a bad taste in their mouths. — So Crawford, who signed a 7-year, $142-million deal with Boston, arranged for lunch to be catered and delivered Wednesday to team employees at Tropicana Field.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, Boston Globe and NESN.com
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones ready to come back to whole new world — Six-time All-Star recovering from ACL injury, ready to set foot back in changed NL East — Chipper Jones was sitting 25 feet up a tree hunting deer in Iowa when he received a text from Atlanta general manager Frank Wren telling …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Atlanta Braves
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Sign Sean Green — The Brewers announced that they signed right-hander Sean Green to a one-year contract. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy hears that the contract is worth a non-guaranteed $875K. — Green missed most of the 2010 season because of a ribcage injury, but logged over 200 innings …
Discussion:
Brew Beat and HardballTalk
Rich / Baseball Analysts:
The Internet Zealot Responds — One Blyleven Internet supporter is such a zealot that he has guessed as to the motives for the non-support, and even on occasion taken to outing non-supporters or ridiculing them, perhaps in an attempt at persuasion. Let me just say that I have nothing against Blyleven …
Discussion:
LyfLines, The Platoon Advantage, Halos Heaven, BronxBanterBlog.com, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lifting a bit of weight
Lifting a bit of weight
Discussion:
It's About The Money and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Yankees hit with $18M luxury tax — NEW YORK — The Yankees have been hit with an $18 million luxury tax on their major league-leading payroll. It was New York's lowest tax since 2003. — The financial information was sent to teams Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, It's About The Money and ESPN
RELATED:
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Yankees, Red Sox hit with luxury tax