As you no doubt heard, Johnny Damon signed with the Tigers over the weekend. One year, $8 million.  Some random observations: I don’t buy for a second that Detroit really had a two-year, $14 million offer out there, but their one-year, $7 million offer was widely reported. That was dangling when the White Sox dropped…

Based on how much iron David Wright apparently pumped this offseason, it would seem that he doesn’t want to depend on lower fences at Citi Field to help restore his power. Mercy. In other news, the article goes on and on about how Jeff Francoeur is helping Wright take a better mental approach to the…

The L.A. Times’ Bill Shaikin reports that a document setting forth the Dodgers’ financial plans was leaked in connection with the McCourt divorce. The document, which was created by the Dodgers in order to solicit Chinese investors in the team and/or a soccer club Frank McCourt wants to buy, sets out the following: The Dodgers…

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced Sunday that Mark Buehrle would get the nod on Opening Day for a franchise record eighth time. Buehrle, entering his 10th year as a member of the White Sox rotation, will break a tie with Billy Pierce for the most Opening Day starts in team history. He gets the…

According to the Washington Post, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman hinted Sunday that Stephen Strasburg is likely to begin the 2010 season in the minor leagues. The 2009 No. 1 overall pick threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Sunday.  He delivered 37 pitches, mostly fastballs, and apparently looked pretty sharp.  But, no matter…

MLB.com’s Matthew Leach has`some excellent news for Cardinals fans and those lucky enough to land the No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts this spring.  Albert Pujols, who has dealt with a right elbow injury for much of his career, has been given a 95 percent chance of avoiding Tommy John surgery. “If I recall, that’s…

UPDATE: The New York Times’ Tyler Kepner reports that Strasburg threw 37 pitches.  Ladson even took a picture. 9:31pm: Stephen Strasburg, selected No. 1 overall in last year’s draft, is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session of the spring on Sunday.  MASN has a story about it this morning, ESPN’s Baseball Tonight is stopping…

In one of the oddest stories you’ll read this spring, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes that Braves outfielder Nate McLouth changed his number to 24 this offseason because of a certain television program that uses the same digits. “The only reason that I took 24,” McLouth said Saturday, “is because it’s my favorite TV show and Lost isn’t…

When Major League Baseball decided Saturday to officially outlaw guns in clubhouses we figured the story would draw a few laughs and maybe some snarky remarks.  What we didn’t expect, however, was serious, disappointed reaction from a current professional. According to the always reliable St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin didn’t take too kindly to…

Jorge Posada made an interesting observation on Saturday evening, comparing current Yankees ace CC Sabathia to former teammate David Wells.  (George King III of the New York Post gathered the quote). “He could pitch for 50 more years,” Posada of the 29-year-old Sabathia.  ”He has an arm like David Wells.” It’s not hard to find…

Update: Ken Davidoff confirms the deal. One-year, $8 million, pending a physical.6:10 PM: Yep. This might actually happen. Sources tell Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports that the Tigers are “near agreement” on a one-year contract with free agent outfielder Johnny Damon. A source tells Brown that the contract is worth “about $8 million” and does…

We’ve all expected it for a while, and it isn’t yet official, but Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse reports that the Dodgers are finalizing a one-year extension with manager Joe Torre that will keep him in Los Angeles through 2011. Torre, who turns 70 in July, signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Dodgers…

Eric Gagne addressed questions about his past connections to performance-enhancing drugs upon arriving to Dodgers’ camp on Saturday, according to Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse: “I’ve said it 150 times, it’s always going to be on my resume for the rest of my life,” Gagne told reporters. “People will second-guess everything I do and if…

Update: Andro has some further clarification, saying Holland iced the knee and is wearing a black sleeve on it. He will have an MRI on Monday, if needed, but the young pitcher doesn’t think it is anything serious. 1:40 PM: Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports that Holland can’t get an MRI on…

Update: Omar Minaya’s offseason catching cavalcade has finally come to an end. The Mets have come to terms with Rod Barajas to a one-year, $1 million contract. He can take home an additional $1 million in “easily-attainable” incentives. 3:11 PM: Heyman says Texas has increased their offer to more than $1.5 million, but Barajas is…

Carlos Delgado recently underwent another hip surgery, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, but he stills plans on attempting a comeback, according to his agent David Sloane. The 37-year-old first baseman recently felt a twinge in his hip after playing winter ball in his native Puerto Rico to mixed reviews. He is expected to be out…

Mets owner Fred Wilpon spoke with the media during the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers, calling the recent offseason “torture.” I’m sure a lot of this emotion had to do with the strife surrounding the dispute with Carlos Beltran, but he also sympathizes with fans who are understandably frustrated that the team…

You’re reading that correctly. After committing nearly $30 million to Pedro Feliz, Brandon Lyon, Brett Myers, Jason Michaels, Geoff Blum and Brian Moehler this offseason, the Astros have extended the contract of general manager Ed Wade through the 2012 season, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. An official announcement is expected later this afternoon. Wade was…

David DeJesus tells Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that he’s cool with moving to right field: “It’s one of those things,” DeJesus said. “I know I had a good year in left. But we’re a team that needs a right fielder. Trey called me, and now I’m a right fielder. I’m going to…