Top News:
Bruce / Chicago's Inside Pitch:
Cubs to send 4 prospects for Garza — Would you give up Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer and Robinson Chirinos to get Matt Garza. The Cubs are getting set to do just that, I've learned this morning. An announcement is not imminent for several reasons (physical exams, for one) …
RELATED:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Chicago Cubs are close to a trade for Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza — The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs are close to agreeing to a multi-player deal that would bring right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago, according to a major league source. — The Cubs and at least three …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs To Acquire Matt Garza — 11:54am: The deal is not completely done yet, but it's heading in that direction, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). — 11:23am: Fernando Perez is going to the Cubs, according to Miles. The 27-year-old outfielder has a .234/.301/.351 line in 107 big league plate appearances.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs, Rays Working On Garza Trade — Cubs GM Jim Hendry is working feverishly to acquire Matt Garza from the Rays, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. The Cubs are getting set to send Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer and Robinson Chirinos to Tampa Bay, according to Miles.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and Bucs Dugout
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Is Roger Clemens spooking Andy Pettitte and his return to the Yanks? — Another day has passed on the Andy Pettitte vigil, with no sign or word from the pitcher who's gone into hiding. Little by little, the Yankees are coming to terms with the reality that Pettitte may have indeed slipped through …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, It's About The Money and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Brian Costello / New York Post:
Yankees' Pettitte ‘just chilling out’ — DEER PARK, Texas — Tanned and rested, Andy Pettitte stood on his front porch last night and answered the question on every Yankees fan's mind: Do you know if you're going to pitch this year? — “I don't,” Pettitte told The Post fresh off his two-week vacation in Hawaii.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Bronx Baseball Daily, HardballTalk and Yankees Daily
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Boras: Rafael Soriano open to setup — Free-agent closer Rafael Soriano led the majors in saves last year, but he would consider being a setup man for one team in baseball — the New York Yankees. — “That door is open for a number of different reasons,” Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, told ESPNNewYork.com.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Kelly, Rizzo among 20 invited to Padres camp — Newly signed Frandsen angling for Opening Day roster spot — SAN DIEGO — Pitcher Casey Kelly and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, two of the players obtained from the Red Sox last month in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, are among the 20 non-roster players invited …
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Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
The Willie Mays Hall of Fame — Bob Costas said something on Wednesday that I've heard a lot of people say through the years, but because he's Bob Costas, and I think the world of the guy, his words inspired this post. Bob thinks that the Baseball Hall of Fame is too big.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Al's Ramblings
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Change will roll into the Hall, someday — Yesterday, Jim Caple wrote a perfectly cogent, clear-eyed look at the Hall of Fame electorate's tortured take on drugs. — In the wake of yesterday's BBWAA Hall of Fame voting results, a number of other cogent and clear-eyed pieces have been written …
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts, THE BOOK, Baseball Insider, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
FOUR-RING CIRCUS COMING TO COOPERSTOWN
Discussion:
HardballTalk and It's About The Money
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Santangelo set to join Nats' TV team — WASHINGTON — Former Major Leaguer F.P. Santangelo said Thursday night that he will become a TV analyst for Nationals games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. — Santangelo is considered an excellent radio personality on KNBR in San Francisco and has done fill-in work during Giants games.
Discussion:
NATS INSIDER, William World News and The Nationals Enquirer
St. Petersburg Times:
Sheffield “99.9-percent” sure he's going to retire — It appears that Tampa native Gary Sheffield's career is coming to a close. — Sheffield told ESPN 1040 in Tampa this afternoon that he's “99.9-percent” sure he's going to retire. Sheffield, who last played in 2009 with the Mets …
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com and HardballTalk
Bill Center / SignOnSanDiego.com:
Bell wants to remain a Padre with multiyear deal — Rather than become a free agent at the end of the 2011 season, closer Heath Bell would like to sign a multiyear contract with the Padres. — “That would be my dream,” Bell said Thursday as he discussed his future with the Padres.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Reuters:
Curveballer Bert Blyleven Recalls Life's Twists — NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bert Blyleven's best pitch as a major leaguer was a nose-to-toes curveball so it was perhaps no surprise that he travelled an unusual, roundabout way to Baseball's Hall of Fame. — Born in the Netherlands …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Rumors and Twinkie Town
Matt Meyers / ESPN:
The Chris Coghlan mistake for Marlins — Moving him to CF, flanked by Logan Morrison, could set back the Fish for years — Despite having a payroll that is regularly the lowest in baseball, the Florida Marlins have managed to consistently put together a winning team.
Discussion:
FishStripes
