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Nats GM Mike Rizzo says nothing has changed with regard to Prince Fielder — The Washington Nationals and Prince Fielder. Prince Fielder and the Washington Nationals. With each day that ends with the slugging first baseman still on the free-agent market, the assumption grows that when it comes …
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Baseball Insider, MLB Rumors and Seattle Mariners blog
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Yankees likely to pass on signing Japanese SS Hiroyuki Nakajima, may re-sign Eric Chavez — Nakajima is eligible to return to Japan, be free agent next winter — Japan's Hiroyuki Nakajima is heading to the MLB next season, but it likely won't be with the Yankees.
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Yahoo! Sports, McCovey Chronicles and Yahoo! Sports
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Nakajima, Yankees unable to reach deal — With no agreement, veteran shortstop returns to Seibu Lions — NEW YORK — The Yankees announced on Thursday that they were unable to sign infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, who will instead continue to play for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League.

MacDougal on verge of signing one-year deal — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are close to re-signing right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal, who would round out their bullpen, to a one-year, $1 million contract. — MacDougal, who turns 35 in March, was signed a year ago by the Dodgers …
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Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and True Blue LA


Zambrano completes Marlins' circus act — To: Rick Jaffe, Senior VP, FOXSports.com — Much as I enjoy covering all 30 teams as the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com, the time has come for a change. — I am writing to ask that you allow me to cover the Miami Marlins full time next season.
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Over the Monster and South Side Sox
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Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
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River Avenue Blues, Baseball Nation and Talking Chop

Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano
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Phillies Nation, Baseball Prospectus, csnchicago.com, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue


Rangers hire Josh Hamilton's father-in-law as the outfielder's new accountability partner — From Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com: … Chadwick will travel on the road with the Rangers, watching over Hamilton's daily activities and providing him a steady source of encouragement …
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Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera pleads no contest to drunken driving, will not get jail time — Miguel Cabrera DUI arrest: The Florida state attorney's office today released a police video in Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera's Feb. 16 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence.
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Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com

Rangers start to raise railings — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers are in the early stages of installation of railings throughout Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in an effort to make the park safer for fans. — Shortly after 39-yard-old Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone died …
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Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog

Mets GM doesn't expect major moves before spring training — NEW YORK — Expecting no major moves before the start of spring training next month, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson thinks his payroll-cutting team can improve on last year's 77-85 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East.

Source: Manny Ramirez plans workout — Manny Ramirez plans to work out for teams later this month in an effort to return to the major leagues, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Ramirez — There were no immediate word on which teams are interested in watching Ramirez work out, Olney reported.
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NESN.com and HardballTalk


Jenks has a second procedure — More fragments taken from back — BOBBY JENKS Late start in spring training — Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks recently had a second spinal decompression procedure after experiencing discomfort following the first procedure in mid-December.
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Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and FenwayNation


Explaining the Command Disconnect — We only remember the most exciting plays. Diving catches, game-winning hits, high-pressure situations — these are the things that fill our memories and our imaginations. But baseball isn't always exciting — often it's far from it.

Angels open contract talks with Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar — Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto has had preliminary discussions with the agents for second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar about multi-year deals that would prevent the infielders from becoming free agents after 2012.
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MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish

Rangers, Napoli likely to settle on one-year deal — GM Daniels discusses potential extensions, makeup of bullpen — ARLINGTON — The Rangers, while focused on signing pitcher Yu Darvish, have not shut down all other business. They are still discussing long-term contracts for certain players …
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Lone Star Ball and Rangers Blog
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Daniels on Napoli, Fielder, Bullpen
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Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors

Japan IF Kawasaki says he has Mariners' invite — KOBE, Japan — Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki says he's been invited to spring training by the Seattle Mariners. — “I'll be going to Arizona in February to compete for a job,” he said Thursday. — Kawasaki batted .267 with 161 hits …
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Lookout Landing and HardballTalk