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:
Mike Silva's …, New Jersey Online, Fanhouse MLB Blog and NESN.com
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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:
IT IS HIGH!, HardballTalk, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Sliding Into Home
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, HardballTalk and LA Times Sports Blog
Alison Leigh Cowan / New York Times:
Trustee Seeks Hundreds of Millions From Mets Owners Over Madoff Fraud — The trustee representing the victims of Bernard L. Madoff's multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from the owners of the Mets, alleging that they, as longtime and successful investors …
Discussion:
ESPN, New Jersey Online, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue and 6-4-2
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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:
SBNation.com
Emma Span / BronxBanterBlog.com:
Mets Minority Partner Madness — Remember when there were all those rumors swirling about how much money the Mets had invested with Bernie Madoff, and how that could impact their ability to run the team? And the Wilpons kept saying, nope, it would have no effect at all? Well, today they issued a statement:
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Wilpons are ‘exploring’ possibility of strategic partnership
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com and MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets owner Fred Wilpon happy with new GM Sandy Alderson …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Kranepool Society 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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MLB.com:
Seattle GM downplays Figgins-to-A's talk — Zduriencik says plan remains for veteran to stay with Mariners — Despite several reports that the Mariners and A's are talking about swapping third basemen Chone Figgins and Kevin Kouzmanoff, Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said Friday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Figgins' no-trade clause to Oakland hasn't been waived yet, but...
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
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
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Hal: ‘No problem’ with Yankees GM
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, BronxBanterBlog.com, TYU, HardballTalk, Sliding Into Home, Fanhouse MLB Blog and It's About The Money
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Source: R.A. Dickey, Mets agree to 2-year deal just hours after Wilpons announce they seek investors — Hours after the Mets asserted that Friday's news about their finances would not impact baseball operations, the team invested in its pitching staff, agreeing to terms with knuckleballer R …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Mets Avoid Arbitration With R.A. Dickey
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk
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:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
MLB:
ESPN pairs Dave O'Brien, Nomar Garciaparra for “Wednesday Night Baseball” broadcasts — Play-by-play commentator Dave O'Brien and analyst Nomar Garciaparra will form the new ESPN “Wednesday Night Baseball” team for the 2011 season. — In addition, Sean McDonough will return to MLB …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Boston Globe
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
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:
MLB Rumors, DRaysBay and Yahoo! Sports
