Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals still pursuing Prince Fielder, met today with agent Scott Boras — Despite a report on the team's official Web site today playing down the Nationals' chances at signing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, a person familiar with the situation said the Nationals are …
Discussion:
MLB.com, MLB Rumors, JSOnline, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation and Nationals Buzz
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals unlikely to sign Prince at current price — WASHINGTON — There is a “99 percent” chance that the Nationals will not sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, according to a baseball source. — The news comes a few weeks after ownership met with Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, in the nation's capital.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Seattle Mariners blog, HardballTalk and JSOnline
Associated Press:
Vogelsong, Giants agree to 2-year, $8.3M deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Vogelsong and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a two-year contract worth approximately $8.3 million after he became one of the team's most reliable starters and an unlikely All-Star last season.
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
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Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Giants Agree To Two-Year Deal With Vogelsong — The Giants and Ryan Vogelsong have agreed to a two-year contract with an option for 2014, reports Mychael Urban of 95.7 FM The Game (via Twitter). The deal is worth a total of $8MM, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets.
Discussion:
Extra Baggs, FanGraphs Baseball and McCovey Chronicles
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Madson's Reds contract awaiting physical — CINCINNATI — A formalized contract between the Reds and prospective new closer Ryan Madson might take several days to complete. — A source told MLB.com on Wednesday that Madson will get a one-year guaranteed contract that pays him $6 million …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Madson-Phils divorce: Boras, Amaro point fingers … Less than a day after reliever Ryan Madson agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, agent Scott Boras and Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. sharply disagreed on the chain of events that led …
MLB:
Manny Ramirez: I'll be a role model … Early last season, Manny Ramirez abruptly retired from baseball after a second violation of baseball's performance-enhancing drug rules, choosing to walk away from the game rather than serve a 100-game suspension. — Now, Ramirez wants to land a tryout …
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk and FenwayNation
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Maddon contract talks progressing — There has been progress in the talks between the Rays and manager Joe Maddon on a contract extension. — Maddon's current contract expires as the end of this coming season. Both sides have expressed strong public interest in continuing the successful relationship.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Selig's contract extension approved by owners — PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — A two-year contract extension for Commissioner Bud Selig was approved on Wednesday by Major League Baseball's executive council, setting up Thursday's confirmation vote by the full ownership.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Bobby Valentine, Carl Crawford to restore order — Eventually, Red Sox [team stats] manager Bobby Valentine and Carl Crawford will talk, at which time they will leave behind the comments Valentine made as an ESPN analyst that insulted the left fielder and move on to more timely matters.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Leukemia Free — As far as I know, this news doesn't affect the Mariners chances of signing Prince Fielder, so I apologize in advance for the lack of update on that front. — I do, however, have some news to share. I underwent a bone marrow biopsy yesterday morning - my third one, in fact.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Johnny Damon: “It's an unhappy day” — Johnny Damon greatly enjoyed his experience playing for the Rays last season and was very much hoping to come back. — But when the Rays struck a deal Wednesday to bring in Luke Scott as their primary DH, it meant Damon wasn't going to get to return, and that didn't go over well.
