The Nationals have signed Rick Ankiel to a minor league contract with a spring training invite, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times. Ankiel hit .236 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs in 122 appearances for the Nationals last season. The Mets were reportedly very interested in Ankiel and according to Jon Heyman, they were trying to scrape up the $1 million dollars they’d need to sign him. Andy Martino of the Daily News said the [...]

Tyler Kepner of the NY Times had an interesting article that discussed the ongoing problem of identity fraud in major league baseball. When Sandy Alderson traveled to the Dominican Republic in 2010 to investigate identity fraud for the commissioner’s office, he went armed with a message. Alderson had previously served as the chief executive of the San Diego Padres, and related his experiences. “I had personally been burned on a number of occasions by identity [...]

According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, recovering from alcohol and drug addictions, had a relapse this week in his quest to remain sober. According to individuals familiar with the episode, Hamilton drank alcohol Monday night at Sherlock’s Pub & Grill in Dallas. Teammate Ian Kinsler also showed up at the bar for what appeared to be an attempt to persuade Hamilton to return to his home in Westlake. Hamilton, a four-time [...]

The Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. The right-hander flew to Washington today for his physical after which the deal should be officially announced by the team. Jon Heyman reports that deal is believed to be worth $8 million to $12 million dollars. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported that the Nationals were targeting Jackson for a one-year deal and also says the Nationals are “aggressively [...]

Here’s a couple of interesting notes from our NL East foes… Right-handed reliever Chad Qualls has signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Qualls, 33, has made 512 appearances over the last seven years – the most in the majors. He gets a one-year deal worth $1.15 million and is expected to go at the head of the line to become the Phillies setup man for newly acquired closer Jonathan Papelbon. “We don’t have a [...]

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Major League Baseball has approved a plan for playoffs to expand this year. The new format will include an additional Wild Card team in each league. The two Wild Cards in each league will square off in a one game playoff to determine who moves on face the division winner with best record that season. The league will make an official announcement tomorrow. Original Post 1/28 According to the [...]

The Nationals have agreed to sign free agent right-hander Brad Lidge to a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $1 million plus incentives, the team has announced. Lidge, 35, posted a 1.40 ERA last season, but was limited to 25 games due to shoulder problems, and he ended up losing his closer’s job to Ryan Madson. However, he did save 27 games and had a 2.96 ERA for the Phillies in 2010, and in his ten-year career he has [...]

The New York Mets today announced that John Franco, the club’s all-time leader in saves and games pitched, will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame during the Mets Hall of Fame Induction ceremony presented by Citi Sunday, June 3 prior to the 1:10 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Franco saved 276 games for the Mets over his 14-year career (1990-2004) with the team, the second-longest in franchise history behind Ed Kranepool’s [...]

MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo completed his final installment of his Top 10 prospects at each position and ranks the game’s top outfield prospects. 1. Bryce Harper, Nationals: Harper might play all of the 2012 season at age 19, but it would be a mistake to think that’s a reason he won’t be in Washington this year. All signs point to him getting every chance to make the Opening Day roster, and why not? Harper has already shown an [...]

Looks like we haven’t seen the last of Tony LaRussa yet. The recently retired Cardinals skipper will serve as the manager of the National League All-Star team for the 2012 Midsummer Classic at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on July 10th. La Russa will become the second retired manager to lead an All-Star squad. Hall of Fame manager John McGraw retired following the 1932 season and managed the NL squad in the first Midsummer Classic in 1933. [...]