It’s a sad, sad day when law abiding ballplayers can’t bring their sidearms into the clubhouse: Major League Baseball has a new message for players and employees this spring training: Keep guns, long knives and explosives out of the clubhouse. Signs have been placed in spring training locker rooms stating “individuals are prohibited from possessing…

Mets manager Jerry Manuel has already come up with his first big idea of the spring; he wants to bat usual leadoff man Jose Reyes third, though only until Carlos Beltran returns from knee surgery. “Reyes, in my opinion, has evolved,” Manuel told the New York Post “I could really stretch our lineup out if…

In response to Keith Law’s outrageously early draft preview Mel Kiper has decided to chuck the 2010 NFL draft entirely and start handicapping 2011. True story. Anyway, there’s a top 50 list there, and some overall analysis: In general, the quality of talent this year is below where it was the last two years, and…

Earlier this week multiple reports had the Rangers interested in Jose Molina, with Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram calling him the team’s “No. 1 target” at catcher, but this afternoon the 35-year-old signed with the Blue Jays. Molina gets $400,000 guaranteed and another $400,000 if he makes the Opening Day roster, and the…

Buster Olney reports that Cleveland has signed Russell Branyan to a one year deal with an option for 2011.  This year it’s a $2 million base salary with up to $1 million in incentives.  The option is of the mutual variety for $5 million. The seal is a juuuuuuust a bit below the $20-$30 million…

General manager Walt Jocketty said today that he expects Jonny Gomes to accept or decline the Reds’ offer by Sunday. “He wants to come back, but he’s taking a last look at what’s out there,” Jocketty said. It’s tough to blame Gomes for continuing to shop around, because despite hitting .267/.338/.541 with 20 homers in…

The players strike back. Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis beat the club, winning a raise from $450,000 to $1.3 million. The Angels were arguing for $700,000. Owners lead the players 4-3 this offseason with one arbitration — Ryan Theriot — left to go. If Theriot wins they go to penalty kicks.

“I just want to do my job and get rich.” – Rays’ catcher Dioner Navarro, tellin’ Marc Tompkin of the St. Petersburg Times how it is. But what about the women? There will be women too, right?

Ted Lilly’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery hit a snag earlier this week when his right knee began hurting, but an MRI exam yesterday revealed no structural damage and instead merely showed what MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat calls “normal wear and tear.” Lilly felt good enough to play catch this morning and assistant general manager Randy…

Jim Bowden just tweeted that Selig’s 14-man uber-committee will soon announce the elimination of excessive offdays in the postseason. I’m not sure how they can simply “announce” it instead of recommend it, because they’re only supposed to be a panel of experts, not some sort of executive body.  If I’m wrong though, brace yourselves everyone,…

Courtesy of ‘Duk at Big League Stew comes word that the wackiest of all baseball stories — long in development hell — may finally be coming to the big screen: The Trade, a film that tells the true tale of 2 New York Yankees pitchers who caused a national scandal by swapping wives in the…

Last month Craig suggested that someone ought to give Ozzie Guillen his own reality television show and … well, MLB Network announced this week that it’s doing just that. Technically the show will be about the entire White Sox’s management team, including general manager Ken Williams and owner Jerry Reinsdorf, but when the first episodes…

Adam Rubin of the Daily News caught up with Kelvim Escobar.  He says that he won’t pick up a baseball until he’s cleared by his rehab coordinator, but that he’s not worried and that he thinks it’s a weakness issue, not an injury issue. When asked if he’ll be ready for opening day he said…

Brian McCann, when asked whether he lost weight during the offseason: No, I just rearranged it. I’m still 235. Judging from the reports flooding in across baseball, McCann might be the only player who isn’t “in the best shape of his life.”

More fun from DodgerLand, as Jamie McCourt has filed new papers seeking adjustments in her monthly allowance. The highlight — at least from my perspective — is Jamie’s claim that Frank has way more money than he claims, and that he has grand, grand plans: “Frank McCourt hopes to transform the Dodgers from a baseball…

Bill Ladson tweets that Nats reliever Sean Burnett lost his arbitration. He’ll make $775,000 in 2010. He had asked for $925,000. Between this and the Brian Bruney arbitration, the Nats bullpen is gettin’ shelled before the first pitch has even been thrown. In other news, I’m noticing that every arbitration result has been reported first…

The whole “Mount Rushmore” thing is a bit played out, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Yesterday ‘Duk at Big League Stew opened up the floor for baseball managers, wondering which for guys you’d include if they were building a managing Mount Rushmore. My first answer is to punt to Chris Jaffe, who just…

Mark McGwire was criticized for years for not saying anything about his steroid use. Now that he’s talking about it to anyone who asks him, Bill Madden of the Daily News slams him for not doing a one-and-done presser like A-Rod and Pettitte did. Oy: Perhaps, but as far as rehabilitating his image, mere apologies…

One of the things I’m most eager to see this spring is how Aroldis Chapman does. He’s such an unknown compared to everyone else. He’s been hyped to the nth degree. Is the hype justified? If so, he could prove to be a real difference maker, helping turn a Reds team that currently qualifies, competitively…

It’s a month and a half before the games start and the tabloids are already poised to pounce: David Wright, Jose Reyes and now Johan Santana all have said they expect the Mets to win the World Series. The Mets are turning the page on an injury-plagued 2009 by making one bold statement after another.…