Top News:
Ian Begley / ESPN:
New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira says he believes Andy Pettitte is leaning toward retirement — NEW YORK — New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has been exchanging text messages with Andy Pettitte during the offseason as Pettitte sits at home in Deer Park, Texas deciding whether to pitch for the Yankees in 2011 or retire.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, HardballTalk, FenwayNationWorld, Yankees Daily and Pinstripe Alley
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Yankees need Andy Pettitte says team president Randy Levine, but Mark Teixeira thinks he will retire — Now that Cliff Lee is not a Yankee, it is extra important to bring back Andy Pettitte, team president Randy Levine says. 'Every day I hope Andy comes back," says Levine.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, BronxBanterBlog.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yanks interested in Blanton, Garcia
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Few easy answers on ballot questions — Voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame was always hard. 'Twas a privilege, but hard. It's a very serious responsibility. — And now it's 10 times harder. — The drug guys, you know? Or should I say “the suspected drug guys”? What a mess.
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Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
Hall of Fame: The Second Round — OK, so this is the second round of Hall of Fame week — these are the players who, for me, are good enough to merit some extra consideration for the Hall but who didn't quite make it to the final cut. — Harold Baines: He played 22 seasons.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Dan Szymborski / ESPN:
Jack Morris falls short of Hall of Fame
Jack Morris falls short of Hall of Fame
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Hardball Times and HardballTalk
MLB.com:
Blue Jays agree to one-year deal with Dotel — The Blue Jays have reportedly finalized a one-year, $3.5 million contract that includes a club option for 2012 with reliever Octavio Dotel, according to FOXSports.com. The Blue Jays have not confirmed the report.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Batter's Box Interactive …
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Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Octavio Dotel, Blue Jays agree to deal — Reliever Octavio Dotel and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal Tuesday, the player's agent told ESPNdeportes.com. — The agent, Dominic Torres, said the deal includes a $3.5 million team option in 2012.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Associated Press
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Ozzie Guillen's kid blasts Bobby Jenks after comment about dad — In the past, Oney Guillen has mostly aimed his notorious Twitter vitriol at the Chicago White Sox and those who work and play for the organization. — But on Tuesday night, Ozzie Guillen's unfiltered son unloaded both barrels …
Discussion:
Deadspin and Halos Heaven
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Jenks admits frustration over terms of departure
Jenks admits frustration over terms of departure
Discussion:
HardballTalk, South Side Sox, Sox Machine and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Papelbon's 2011 no laughing matter
Papelbon's 2011 no laughing matter
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster and HardballTalk
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Longtime scout, executive Lajoie dies — Baseball ‘lifer’ played key role for '84 champion Tigers — Longtime baseball scout and executive Bill Lajoie, who played a key role in building the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers, passed away in his sleep at his home in Osprey, Fla., on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 76.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Boston Globe, Brew Beat and Bucs Dugout
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Jeff Bagwell tires of steroids talk — Former Astros slugger addresses accusations, physical appearance, Hall of Fame — Jeff Bagwell believes lifting weights like a bodybuilder shortened his career. … “I never used [steroids], and I'll tell you exactly why: If I could hit between 30 …
Patrick Sullivan / Baseball Analysts:
Jim Rice, Chet Lemon, and How I Think About Wins Above Replacement — Inspired by Mike Axisa's new Twitter feed, @WARGraphs, I have been playing around with a new tool, or at least one that's new to me. As you may know, WAR Graphs is a Fangraphs feature where you can compare up to four players by Wins Above Replacement.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Bob Elliott / Toronto Sun:
Canadian baseball's top 100 — Can a ball player have an influence after the season ends? — Tell us what you think. — “Growing up, looking out across the border, I saw the bright lights, stronger arms, stronger bats, players who had more exposure than we did, more TV coverage, more support from their communities.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Maury Brown / FanGraphs Baseball:
Show Me the $! End-of-Year Payrolls — On some level, it's simple to say that each of the Big-4 sports in Northern America are different. Baseball doesn't have a clock; the NHL uses a puck; the NBA uses a hoop; the NFL has downs. — Yes, I'm being over simplistic here, but on the salary side …
Discussion:
LADodgerTalk.com, Purple Row, Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog.com and THE BOOK
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