Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Cardinals and Yadier Molina are close to a five-year contract extension in the range of $70-75 million.

 

I like this. Anytime I get the chance to lock up a catcher with an 88 career OPS+ at 5/70, I'm doing it.

 

Plus a dual 6th year option at another $15 million. Geesh.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/giants-talk...amp;feedID=5879

 

Posey's ankle needs more time, won't play in spring opener

March 1, 2012, 1:05 pm

 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy penciled out his lineup for Saturday's exhibition opener, and it includes most of the forecasted starters.

 

But not Buster Posey.

 

The Giants' cleanup-hitting catcher won't play on Saturday and might not make his Cactus League debut until the middle of next week, Bochy said. Trainers and club officials agreed that Posey's reconstructed left ankle needs more time, especially when it comes to sliding and baserunning.

 

 

"At this point, we feel he's better off (not playing)," Bochy said. "Could he go back there and catch? Yeah. But we want to make sure he's ready. We want to be 100 percent sure."

 

As recently as two days ago, Bochy had left open the possibility that Posey could start the opener. But he said he knew all along that the more realistic possibility would be to have his 2010 Rookie of the Year ready "by the second week or the back end of the first week" of exhibition games.

 

"We've been here 10 days, and you may think that's a long time," Bochy said. "But when a guy hasn't played in four, five months or longer, it takes time. But I will say this: He's real close. If we wanted to force the issue, we could."

 

Posey hasn't tried any sliding drills yet. He ran bases a few weeks ago and said his ankle has been stiff and sore when introduced to new tests. But he is pleased with the progression and said he anticipates being game ready soon.

 

"I'm feeling great and everything is going well," Posey said. "We're sticking to the course and I don't think it'll be long before I get into games here."

 

Posey said he didn't see sliding as a major issue. He acknowledged the baserunning concern, though.

 

"That's definitely been the toughest thing so far, but there's been a lot of improvement," he said. "Any time I'm challenging my ankle to do something different, it responds better and better each time I do it. ... The first time I caught, there was stiffness. It for better each time I caught. We knew running bases would be one of the last things to do."

 

The first lineup of the spring often is chock full of hints as to which players are considered the ones to beat out for jobs. So it's telling that Aubrey Huff, and not Brandon Belt, will start at first base on Saturday, Bochy said.

 

Bochy plans to play Mike Fontenot at second base, Brandon Crawford at short, Pablo Sandova at third, Melky Cabrera in left field, Angel Pagan in center and Nate Schierholtz in right. Chris Stewart will start at catcher; he'll receive Tim Lincecum, who is expected to throw just one inning.

 

Is Posey disappointed he won't be able to join his mates?

 

"There's no disappointment at all," Posey said. "Spring training is about being ready for the season. If I wasn't ready for the opener of the regular season, I'd be disappointed."

 

Read more: Posey's ankle needs more time, won't play in spring opener

Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

f*** that, terrible luck for the Pirates. They have a chance (although slight) to actually compete this year, but they need a healthy Burnett to do so. You can break my orbital bone for the salary that Burnett steals.

This could be incredibly great for the pirates if that deal is insured. They could get Burnett's contract paid for by insurance and by the Yankees.

Peter Gammons ‏ @pgammo

The good news on AJ Burnett is no longterm damage, but it likely is an 8-10 week process before he starts

Tim Kurkjian ‏ @Kurkjian_ESPN

Jim Thome is trying to re-learn playing first base. He told me he took yoga in the offseason to help with flexibility.

 

Thome said he hasn't played first base in six years. "They say it's like riding a bike, but it's not," he said.

5 year, $25 million deal for Cameron Maybin (CF, SD). One option year at the end. Buys out 2 years of free agency.

5 year, $25 million deal for Cameron Maybin (CF, SD). One option year at the end. Buys out 2 years of free agency.

High risk/high reward deal there. This guy was a huge bust before last year, and though he still has a ton of potential he could easily revert back to his Marlins days.

I made a bet with an A's fan at 10:1 odds for $10 that Manny Ramirez would not lead the league in doubles.

 

I am going to be $10 richer come September.

I made a bet with an A's fan at 10:1 odds for $10 that Manny Ramirez would not lead the league in doubles.

 

I am going to be $10 richer come September.

 

Um, he doesn't realize that Manny can only play in 112 games?

RT @JonHeymanCBS #Braves hitting coach greg walker on his team being 1-hit in spring opener: "the honeymoon is already over."

Um, he doesn't realize that Manny can only play in 112 games?

 

He does. This guy is just that dumb.

RT @JonHeymanCBS #Braves hitting coach greg walker on his team being 1-hit in spring opener: "the honeymoon is already over."

 

Hahaha, it's not like this hasn't happened before.

Stras pitching on MLB Network now.

Um, he doesn't realize that Manny can only play in 112 games?

 

Yeah, but he probably pumped some more woman chemicals into himself during the time off.

Pirates sign McCutchen to a six year, $51.5 million contract.

Pirates sign McCutchen to a six year, $51.5 million contract.

Solid. How much FA time does this buy out?

Also includes a 7th year as an option

 

Bob Nightengale ‏ @BNightengale

Great move by #Pirates, who sign CF McCutchen to six-year, $51.5 million deal, according to Pitt Post-Gazette with option in 2018. #MLB

MLB Trade Rumors ‏ @mlbtraderumors

Softbank Hawks Sign Hideki Okajima

Solid. How much FA time does this buy out?

 

He would have been a FA after 2015, so two? Three seasons if the option is picked up

He would have been a FA after 2015, so two? Three seasons if the option is picked up

Buying out 3 years of FA for him is a stellar move for Pittsburgh.

Jon Morosi ‏ @jonmorosi

Initially, Ruben Amaro Jr. said he would be happy to get Ryan Howard back sometime in May. Infection puts that in doubt. #Phillies

DKnobler ‏ @DKnobler

Early word on best development in Pirates camp: Pedro Alvarez is in much better shape, looks best he has since '09

 

Word on A.J. Burnett is that if all goes well, could be in Pirates rotation in early May

@jimbaumbach: Judge has ruled Picard's case against Wilpons will go to trial.

 

Adam Rubin ‏ @AdamRubinESPN

In summary, Wilpons lose $83 million before trial. $303 million more at stake before jury March 19.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-r...buseallegations

 

BOSTON (AP)—Eight more men have come forward to say they were abused by a now-dead former Boston Red Sox clubhouse manager.

 

The men, including two former Baltimore Orioles bat boys, are in addition to two former Red Sox clubhouse attendants who said in December to say they were abused by Donald Fitzpatrick, who died in 2005.

 

Lawyer Mitchell Garabedian said Monday the statute of limitations for legal action has expired, so the men are seeking $5 million settlements from the Red Sox or Orioles. He’s exploring possible legal action in two cases.

 

Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty in Florida in 2002 to attempted sexual battery on a child under 12. The Red Sox settled a lawsuit with seven Florida men claiming Fitzpatrick molested them. He resigned from the Red Sox in 1991.

Tim Kurkjian ‏ @Kurkjian_ESPN

Evan Longoria told me his foot hurt so much last year, he would take his shoe off between innings. That foot has healed. Huge year ahead