Top News:
Amanda Comak / Washington Times:
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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Insider, MLB Rumors and Seattle Mariners blog
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Business of Scott Boras unfinished
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, McCovey Chronicles and Yahoo! Sports
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
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.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and True Blue LA
Fox Sports:
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.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and South Side Sox
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Marlins Agree To Acquire Carlos Zambrano
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, Baseball Nation and Talking Chop
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano
Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Baseball Prospectus, csnchicago.com, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs deal Carlos Zambrano
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
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 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Detroit Free Press:
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Associated Press:
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.
MLB:
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.
Discussion:
NESN.com and HardballTalk
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and FenwayNation
Josh Weinstock / FanGraphs Baseball:
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.
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Rangers Blog
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T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Daniels on Napoli, Fielder, Bullpen
Daniels on Napoli, Fielder, Bullpen
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
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 …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and HardballTalk