Baseball Players News

“If [Sosa] wants to play, he should”

No position in baseball is more important than shortstop. Both of Chicago's teams are approaching the 2008 season with an eye on getting to the playoffs. via Chicago Tribune

“He's been like a big brother to me since '96, so I'm really hopefully looking forward to working with him.”

Jorge Posada is optimistic that a deal soon will be reached with the Yankees, saying during halftime of the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden Sunday night that the two sides are 'really close' to making that ... via Newsday.com

“I think this was a must win game and we came out and put a pounding on. If we keep doing what we're doing, with two tough games coming up, we can compete with anybody.”

Brooks McNiven of Vancouver threw six shutout innings and Mike Saunders of Victoria hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth to lead Canada in a 7-1 win over the Netherlands on Sunday at the IBAF World Cup. via Slam Sports

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald wrote a very interesting article in the Sunday edition of that newspaper. via Peter on Just About Everything. Red S...

Italy took advantage of three errors by the United States to score five unearned runs in a 6-2 victory Friday at the 37th Baseball World Cup. via USA Today

“We're definitely going to be in on that”

While the Minnesota Twins have said they will try to sign pitcher Johan Santana to a contract extension before the start of the 2008 season, there's a strong possibility that the small-market team will be ... via Staten Island Advance

“I'm here because these kids, it really puts a smile on their face”

It's the kind of thing young baseball lovers dream about. But Saturday, some pint-sized players got the chance of a lifetime when major league stars showed up at Dickey-Stephens Park for a baseball camp. via FOX16.com

Free-agent reliever J.C. Romero has re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing to a 3-year, $12 million contract. via WNEP-TV Moosic

Delwyn Young hit a three-run homer in the first inning to lead the United States to a 5-1 victory Saturday over Japan at the 37th Baseball World Cup. via Fox Sports

“I think, if things fell into place and he felt good, he would be interested”

Roger Clemens officially filed for free agency on Friday, leaving open the possibility that he could return next season but doing little to alter the chance that he actually will. via Major League Baseball

A factor that could come into play in possibly trading Miguel Cabrera is getting the four-time All-Star signed to a multiyear contract. via Florida Marlins

Royals fans always knew Carlos Beltran could do it all, whether at the plate or in the field. via Kansas City Star

“I know I was expecting more from myself and I am getting ready for a better year. I still think I can play in the toughest division and play at the major league level. I'm glad the Giants trusted (that)”

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2007, San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel makes a leaping throw to first base to get the out on San Diego Padres' Terrmel Sledge during the sixth inning of a baseball ... via Lexington Herald-Leader

“Start a relationship, know how they think, what's going on when you're going good, what's going on when you're going bad”

That was the message delivered Thursday by new Los Angeles Dodgers coaches Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa. via SF Gate

Eleven current free agents are reportedly among the names in former Senator George Mitchell's report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. via 104.7 The Mix

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are no more.

Trying to reinvent itself, the team officially shortened its nickname to simply 'Rays' during a celebration that brought a crowd of about 7,000 to a downtown park Thursday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

New team colors and uniforms also were unveiled during a fashion show featuring current players, manager Joe Maddon, senior adviser Don Zimmer and former Tampa Bay stars Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff as models.

Navy blue and light blue have replaced green and black as the primary colors. Read more

“We expect to look into the situation and are prepared to take the appropriate action to respond to any collusive behavior, and to make sure that the rights of free agent players under the Basic Agreement are fully protected.”

The baseball players' union is worried commissioner Bud Selig is trying to hold down the price of Alex Rodriguez's next contract and that teams might be sharing information about their free-agent plans.

General managers, in an innovation, each spoke at their annual meeting Tuesday about their offseason goals, and many mentioned what players they were making available. The idea was suggested by this year's co-chairs, Boston's Theo Epstein and Florida's Larry Beinfest, and many GMs said they found it to be useful. Read more

The Boston Red Sox made a three-year guaranteed offer to World Series MVP Mike Lowell that a source with the club described as "really strong," the Boston Herald reported. via WSBTV

“He wants to be properly placed in the current market. As long as the Tigers are willing to do that, they will remain his first choice. If anything other than that were to happen, that would be grounds for him to look at this differently.”

ORLANDO - Kenny Rogers has decided to pitch in 2008, but he has not committed to pitching for the Tigers. via Detroit Free Press