Top News:
Nate Smeltz / ESPN MediaZone:
ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball Early Season Schedule Features Rivalries — Multiple Appearances by Defending Champion Giants; Rangers/Yankees in ALCS Rematch — ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball - the exclusive, national game of the week - will showcase some of Major League Baseball's best rivalries including …
Gary Myers / NY Daily News:
Jets' Antonio Cromartie tells Daily News he hates Tom Brady, calls Patriots QB an ‘ass— ’ — Now, it's really personal. — Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, taking the baton from Rex Ryan, who criticized Tom Brady's post-touchdown “antics” earlier this week, ripped into the Patriots quarterback …
Discussion:
Deadspin, LA Times Sports Blog, thejetsblog.com, NESN.com, The Big Lead, FanHouse and USA Today
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Greg Bishop / New York Times:
Ryan's Remarks on Patriots Move Jets to Shrug — FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — On Tuesday, most of the Jets claimed they had not heard the latest headlines generated by Coach Rex Ryan, despite the national attention his comments generated. — Ryan spent 20 minutes Monday afternoon setting his agenda for the week.
Discussion:
Tedquarters
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Cards CEO optimistic about Pujols deal — PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZ. — William O. DeWitt Jr., chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals, said Wednesday that he is hopeful the team will sign superstar Albert Pujols to a long-term contract extension before Opening Day.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Chicago Breaking Sports
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Discussion:
North County Times, TYU, Wezen Ball, Hardball Times and Denver Post
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SPANdemonium:
Mets agree to Minor League Deal with LHP Taylor Tankersley — According to a source, the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league deal with Taylor Tankersley. The deal includes a Spring Training invite and is not yet official but was agreed upon on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Yahoo! Sports and Kranepool Society
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Not-so-closing arguments about the save — Relief statistic could be more meaningful than current formula — The past 16 seasons have reaffirmed what all of us knew and many of us have repeated, that records live in peril. They are displaced from time to time.
MLB.com:
Cubs, Outfielder Reed Johnson agree to Minor League Contract — The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Reed Johnson have agreed to terms on a 2011 minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. — Johnson, 34, returns to the Cubs organization …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Sign Dewayne Wise, Three Others — Dewayne Wise is one of four players the Marlins signed to minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (Twitter links). The team also added infielder Joe Thurston, catcher Clint Sammons and corner infielder Jamie D'Antona.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Bill Conlin / Philly.com:
Hall voters don't need morals clause to determine who is worthy — “Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” — Instruction to Voters
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Death Match: Greenies vs. 'Roids — Over at It's About the Money, Larry has written an outstanding primer on athletes and amphetamines, and if you're interested in that sort of thing, I can't recommend it highly enough. — One section, though — yes, the section that's sort of about me — caught me short.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, THE BOOK and Patrick Flood
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Report: Rays sign reliever Kyle Farnsworth — UPDATE: The Rays have agreed to a deal with Farnsworth, but the team has no announcement planned today so it may not be final yet. — DEVELOPING: The Rays have agreed to a one-year deal with reliever Kyle Farnsworth, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Tigers, Ryan Raburn Agree To Two-Year Deal — The Tigers announced that they agreed to a two-year deal with Ryan Raburn, avoiding arbitration. The 29-year-old will earn $3.4MM for 2011-12, according to the AP (on CBSSports.com). Raburn was arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys