Top News:
Bob Klapisch / Boston Herald:
Yankees' Brian Cashman is unplugged, but why — So what gives with Brian Cashman, the suddenly unfiltered, say-anything GM who must've gone crazy the other day, openly speculating about Derek Jeter's future in centerfield. Either that, or Cashman, in the final year of his contract …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Brian Costello / New York Post:
Yankees GM hints at move to center, not third, for Jeter — Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Bernie Williams . . . Derek Jeter? — It's not happening anytime soon, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman delivered the first hint at Jeter's future yesterday while answering a question at a Q&A with fans at a Manhattan restaurant.
Discussion:
TYU
Dave Allen / FanGraphs Baseball:
Chamberlain's Stuff as a Starter
Discussion:
CBS New York, TYU and Sliding Into Home
Keith Law / ESPN:
2011 MLB organizational rankings — The Royals top the rankings, but Tampa is surprisingly close behind — As it has the past two years, this complements my annual Top 100 list of prospects. This ranking includes only players who are still eligible for the Top 100 prospects ranking …
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, Mets Merized Online, Patrick Flood, Federal Baseball, Arizona Republic, Tedquarters, ESPN and Royals Authority
RELATED:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pitcher Spurns $12 Million, to Keep Self-Respect — The guaranteed contract is a fundamental principle of Major League Baseball, as much a part of the game as balls, strikes and outs. No matter how a player performs, or how his body holds up, he must be paid in full.
Discussion:
Bats, HardballTalk and Mariners blog
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Source: “very strong possibility” that Andy Pettitte pitches in 2011 — A source close to Andy Pettitte tells me that there is a “very strong possibility” that Pettitte is going to pitch in 2011. He is doing his usual preseason workouts and has had no physical issues thus far.
Discussion:
Zell's Pinstripe Blog, NESN.com, MLB Rumors, Fanhouse MLB Blog, River Avenue Blues and SNY
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Sign Bartolo Colon — Nine years ago, Bartolo Colon was a stud pitcher on his way to a 20-win season. As talk of relocation continued, the Montreal Expos went all in, shipping prospects Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore to Cleveland for Colon.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Yankees sign Bartolo Colon
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible …, USA Today, Associated Press and BronxBanterBlog.com
Kathy Lynn Gray / Boston Herald:
Ruling: Money manager cheated Mo Vaughn — An Ohio arbitrator has awarded former major-league baseball player Mo Vaughn $3.5 million in a dispute with his former money manager. — The arbitrator ruled that RKM Business Services, owned and operated by Ra Shonda Kay Marshall …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies sign Amezaga, Moeller to Minors deals — DENVER — Utility man Alfredo Amezaga, who was briefly with Colorado before making a Major League impact elsewhere, has re-joined the Rockies on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, the club announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
Inside the Colorado Rockies
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies sign utilityman Alfredo Amezaga to minor-league deal
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Is Michael Young the next piece of Jays' puzzle? — Could it happen? Michael Young playing third base for the Blue Jays on opening day 2011 and Jose Bautista moving back to his preferred position of right field? — That scenario, if followed, could lead to the home-run king beginning serious negotiations …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
New York Post:
Hank: Yankees ‘just have to (bleeping) win’ — “I think A.J. [Burnett] is going to come back and have at least the kind of year like he had two years ago. CC Sabathia is going to be great as usual. Phil Hughes, we're expecting more big things. — “I say we have one of the top four teams in baseball …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home and Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Angels, Jered Weaver begin talks — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels have opened discussions about a long-term contract extension for ace right-hander Jered Weaver, owner Arte Moreno said Wednesday. — Weaver, 28, would be a free agent following the 2012 season.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Nhurm / Cincinnati Reds:
Final breakdown of Reds Caravan — Here is the itinerary for the 2011 Reds Caravan, presented by CincinnatiUSA.com. — Western Leg — Entire leg: Marty Brennaman, Brandon Phillips, assistant general manager Bob Miller and Reds' minor league player of the year Devin Mesoraco.
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com and The Reds Report
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Angels' Trout named MLB.com's top prospect — Speedy outfielder heads list of top 50 up-and-coming players — ANAHEIM — An exceptional athlete with the frame and speed of a free safety and the full-tilt attitude of a young Pete Rose, outfielder Mike Trout now stands alone as the biggest fish …
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Howard Megdal / Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:
Three Out of Three Doctors Agree — The writer Murray Chass, in his January 23 blog entry, re-visited his oft-cited idea that he knows Mike Piazza took steroids, since he saw “back acne” on Piazza while interviewing him in the New York Mets' clubhouse during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Chass wrote:
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Britt's Bird Watch:
Duke on the Os, handling NY & why he won't be a relief option — Free agent Justin Duchscherer, considered one of the best starting pitchers still on the market, said Tuesday evening that physically he feels “pretty much 100 percent” and shot down the notion that his previous depression issues …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, TYU, Bronx Baseball Daily, Respect Jeter's Gangster and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Duchscherer at full strength, in body and mind
Discussion:
Tedquarters and HardballTalk
