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Cliff Lee to miss start of camp after foot surgery
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February 9
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
"Newly acquired starting pitcher Cliff Lee will miss the start of the Seattle Mariners spring training after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur on his left foot Friday, the team announced Monday. Lee, 31, had surgery in Little Rock, Ark., after a spur in his foot recently broke loose. Lee will not require a cast and will return to normal baseball activities over a period of two to three weeks, the team said. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the team's facility in Peoria, Ariz., in nine days on Feb. 17, meaning Lee will apparently be sidelined at least for the first week or so. "We decided Lee should have the surgery as soon as possible, rather than try to pitch with ..."
Twins owner Jim Pohlad not in on Mauer talks, but revenue boost should help team sign star
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February 9
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Twins owner Jim Pohlad, in a meeting with reporters Monday at Target Field, said he's "absolutely not" involved in any Joe Mauer contract negotiations. As snow fell on the team's new ballpark, Pohlad answered questions about his organization's record-breaking payroll, set to reach about $96 million by Opening Day, legacy contracts, and what he thinks of the 2010 Twins. What everyone wants to know, though, Pohlad wouldn't share, insisting he hasn't been and won't be involved in the Twins talks with Mauer, though he joked that he tells general manager Bill Smith to re-sign Mauer all the time. "We all tell him that," Pohlad said while seated next to Twins President Dave St. Peter and Twins ..."
Cardinals, Skip Schumaker reach 2-year, $4.7 million deal
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February 9
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Second baseman Skip Schumaker and the Cardinals avoided a Feb. 19 showdown Monday when they agreed on a two-year, $4.7 million contract. Less than a year after beginning a highly scrutinized transformation from center fielder to middle infielder, Schumaker will receive more than four times his 2009 salary. The Cardinals achieve much-desired cost certainty while avoiding a potentially contentious arbitration hearing involving an important member of the clubhouse. "It's huge for me to go into spring training and have it done," Schumaker said after a team physical in St. Louis. "I didn't want it to be a case where I got there and everybody is talking about how I'm not signed, how nothing is ..."
Shields still recovering from surgery
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February 9
ESPN.com
 
"One of the Angels' top relief pitchers won't be ready to work from a mound at the start of spring training. Scot Shields flew from his home in Michigan to meet with Angels trainers last month and has yet to be cleared to throw off the mound. Nearly eight months after undergoing surgery to repair the patella tendon in his left knee last June 16, Shields has been limited to playing catch. Angels pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 17, with the first workout scheduled for the next day."
Thames OKs Yankee deal
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February 9
New York Post
 
"Quantity over proven quality. Unable to agree on a deal with Johnny Damon, the Yankees officially announced the Randy Winn signing yesterday, and agreed to a minor-league contract with Marcus Thames. Added to Brett Gardner, the Yankees have three possible replacements for Damon, who is unemployed. Winn, 35, is guaranteed $1.1 million and can bag another $900,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances against lefties -- $100,000 each for 50, 75 and 100 plate appearances and $150,000 apiece for 125, 150, 175 and 200 appearances. He is a career .280 hitter versus lefties, but the switch-hitter batted just .158 against southpaws last year. Winn batted .262 with two homers and 51 ..."
Brewers to unveil statue of Selig
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February 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"Without the persistence of Bud Selig, the Milwaukee Brewers might still be the Seattle Pilots. That same persistence resulted in the building of Miller Park, which guaranteed the franchise would not relocate again. On those two counts alone, much less his other accomplishments, the Brewers figured Selig deserved to stand - in bronze - with Hank Aaron and Robin Yount outside of the club's retractable-roof facility. The Brewers announced Monday that they will honor baseball's commissioner and the team's former owner with a statue at Miller Park's Home Plate Plaza. Selig's statue will be unveiled in a ceremony at 1 p.m. Aug. 24. "We are proud to honor Commissioner Selig for all of his efforts ..."
Plenty of talent could be on move
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February 9
MLB.com
 
"When players make themselves at home in their respective clubhouses in a couple of weeks, some will be trying on new uniforms, while most will be putting on the same ones they've worn for years. A few might not want to get too comfortable in this spring's colors, though. Trades will happen. Some will happen soon, some might not happen until summer as the July 31 Trade Deadline approaches. But they'll happen. It might be something we've heard about for months, like Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox. It might be one that could make sense even with the ink barely dried on a player's contract, like Ben Sheets with the A's. And you can pretty much bank on there being a doozy or two nobody had any ..."
Citi Field to become more homer-friendly next season; CF wall to get chopped 8 feet
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February 9
New York Daily News
 
"Broadcaster Gary Cohen may be able to proclaim, "It's outta here!" a little more often in 2010. And David Wright may not be as inclined to frustratingly fling his Great Gazoo helmet, or whatever protective wear he uses, during the upcoming season. The height of Citi Field's center-field wall will be sliced in half, making the ballpark more homer-friendly, the Daily News has learned. Last season, the wall measured 16 feet in front of the sparsely used Home Run Apple. Now, with the second level of padding being removed, it will measure eight feet in the middle of the outfield. Still, as the Daily News exclusively reported in September, the stadium's spacious dimensions won't be altered. The ..."
Aparicio Lets White Sox Unretire His No. 11 So Vizquel Can Wear It in Tribute
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February 9
New York Times
 
"In honor of another Venezuelan shortstop, Dave Concepcion, Vizquel and his new manager, Ozzie Guillen, had each worn No. 13 throughout his career. And with Guillen unwilling to give it up when Vizquel joined the Chicago White Sox in November, it took yet another Venezuelan shortstop to resolve the situation. Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan in the Baseball Hall of Fame, permitted the White Sox to unretire his No. 11 so Vizquel could wear it in tribute. Vizquel contacted Aparicio to see if he would be amenable, according to a White Sox spokesman, who added that the number would go back to being retired whenever Vizquel, who turns 43 in April, leaves the organization. "If there is one ..."
Report: Detroit, Atlanta like Damon
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February 8
Detroit Free Press
 
"Foxsports.com reports that the Tigers and Braves are among teams interested in the services of free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon. The report says the Tigers' chances of getting Damon rest on whether owner Mike Ilitch wants to expand the team's budget. Damon's agent is Scott Boras, who has recent history with the Tigers. Boras also represented Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordoñez when they signed with the Tigers."