Top News:
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Yanks prez: Rangers owner ‘delusional’ — NEW YORK — Yankees president Randy Levine has fired back at Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, calling him “delusional.” — The message was direct: Mind your business and keep your team off “welfare.” — Levine made his comments in response …
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, New Jersey Online and Mike Silva's …
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Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Lance Berkman bashes Rangers — Lance Berkman criticized the Texas Rangers on a Houston radio station Thursday as he discussed why he opted to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. — Berkman, who turns 35 just before spring training begins, said on the John & Lance show …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, LA Times Sports Blog and HardballTalk
Nathaniel Vinton / NY Daily News:
Yankees president Randy Levine rips Texas Rangers over Cliff Lee: Team is ‘on welfare’ — The Texas Rangers are “on welfare” and their CEO is “delusional,” according to Yankees president Randy Levine. — That's the message the Yankee brass wants Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg to hear …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, HardballTalk and Sliding Into Home
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees upset with Texas owner again … The Yankees are again upset about comments made by Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg. This time, the Yankees believe Greenberg implied in remarks made to fans in Texas Thursday that he got one over on the storied franchise when he made his second trip …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Wilpons are ‘exploring’ possibility of strategic partnership — According to the New York Times, a person involved in the Madoff cases said it was possible that lawyers could seek as much as $1 billion from Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, since they are considered “net winners” in Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, SNY and MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com
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Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
There is no guarantee that the Wilpons will be able to keep control of the Mets — Forgive me if I'm not optimistic about the Wilpons' chances of finding “strategic partners” who will gladly fork over millions in exchange for a minority share of the team, leaving the Wilpons in control.
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com, baseballmusings.com and SBNation.com
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Recap: Wilpon conference call at 2:15 PM
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Madoff Lawsuit Forces Mets to Seek More Owners
Discussion:
HardballTalk, ESPN, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Mets Merized Online, Amazin' Avenue and 6-4-2
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets owner Fred Wilpon happy with new GM Sandy Alderson …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society, Bleacher Report and MetsBlog.com
Joe Stiglich / Contra Costa Times:
A's not giving up on outfield prospect Chris Carter — Many reporters were on hand to interview Chris Carter on Thursday at the A's preseason media day. — That shows interest remains high in the power-hitting outfielder, even as his stock appears to be low in the eyes of the A's brass.
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Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Figgins' no-trade clause to Oakland hasn't been waived yet, but... I'm hearing little bits here and there with the A's and any possible pursuit of Seattle's Chone Figgins, some of it conflicting, but here's what I can gather so far: While there may have been talks, nothing has reached the stage …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Seattle Times
Joe Stiglich / Mercury News:
Source: Oakland A's trying to trade for Chone Figgins
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, SBNation.com, Lookout Landing and Beyond the Box Score
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Hal: ‘No problem’ with Yankees GM — Hal Steinbrenner does not think Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is insubordinate. He does not think Cashman is trying to get fired. He does not think Cashman is saying anything outrageous publicly. — What does the Yankees owner think about his general manager?
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, BronxBanterBlog.com, TYU, HardballTalk, Sliding Into Home, Fanhouse MLB Blog and It's About The Money
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Fox Sports:
Cashman's skin toughened by New York — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — Here's the first thing you need to know about whether Brian Cashman is sick of being Yankees general manager …
Discussion:
lenNY's Yankees
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
To Increase Production, Jeter Tries Subtracting a Step — TAMPA, Fla. — Kevin Long needed a place to demonstrate Derek Jeter's retooled hitting mechanics, so the bar area of a Bonefish Grill on Thursday night had to suffice. Long nudged aside a coffee table, assumed the hitting position …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Sports Illustrated:
Yankees waiting on Pettitte, one of many weighing retirement … The Yankees are said to be “frozen” while they continue to wait on Andy Pettitte's decision about whether he intends to play in 2011. Spring training is only two weeks away, and Pettitte holds the key to the storied team's entire winter.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB Rumors, Yankeeist and New York Post
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Nick Collias / MLB Rumors:
Spanish Links: Garcia, Belaguer, Rangers
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible … and Sliding Into Home
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays sign Casey Kotchman to minor-league deal — The Rays are signing 1B Casey Kotchman to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. — Kotchman, 28 next month, was a first-round pick out of Seminole High in 2001 (13th overall by the Angels), but has had mixed results …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors and DRaysBay
