AGRI Biz

Just a few weeks after throwing off a mound for the first time, Brandon Webb threw 45 pitches yesterday in a bullpen session, according to MLB.com: It was only a bullpen session, but the 45 pitches Brandon Webb threw on Thursday morning had the D-backs feeling good. "I feel like every time I'm getting somewhere," Webb said. "So eventually I'm going to get to where I need to be. Today was by ...

AJ Pierzynski has been the heart and soul of the White Sox since 2005, but will 2010 be his final season with the club? Perhaps: ''No matter what happens, I will never wish bad on the White Sox organization. They have been nothing but great to me, from [chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] to [general manager] Kenny [Williams] to [manager] Ozzie [Guillen].'' Pierzynski is in the final year of a three-year extension he signed ...

á Sounds like Carl is about to price himself out of Tampa: Carl Crawford said his chances of staying with the Rays "could go either way" and he's "hoping for the best like always.'' "Right now I really don't know,'' he said after his first workout of the spring. "I wish something good would come out of it. At this point we really haven't done too much of that (negotiating) right now ...

á Good news for Mets fans as long as the injury bug stays away from Jose: The Mets have an $11 million option on his 2011 contract. He needs to produce. Reyes said he wants to remain a Met his entire career. Reyes said he thinks if he stays healthy, the marriage will continue for many years. "I don't want to go anywhere," he said. "I want to finish my career here. "Right now, ...

Dodger fans, enjoy your last season of Mannywood. Manny Ramirez appeared in the Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time on Monday morning and promptly conceded this would be his final spring training with the club. "I won't be here next year, so I just want to enjoy myself," Ramirez said. "I don't know [if I'll play next year]. I just know I'm not going to be here. When the season is over, ...

After making all kinds of noise this winter about his free agency in 2012, Jonathan Papelbon expressed his desire to stay with the Red Sox long term: What do you make of the perception that you will seek the biggest contract in free agency and leave the Red Sox after 2011? Papelbon responded, "I think thatÆs the perception, that IÆm going to go somewhere else, but itÆs all a perception. Right now ...

á Some encouraging news for Rockies fans: á Francis, who won 17 games and helped the Rockies to the 2007 World Series before an injury-filled 2008 (4-10, 5.01 ERA), has completed long rehab process, thrown in instructional ball last fall, and went through two sessions of facing hitters at the Rockies' complex in the Dominican Republic earlier this month. Francis' comeback will be a front-burner issue soon enough. But since he has given ...

Mortified: "'I tell people that it's possible he could leave as a free agent after the year," former Twins catcher Tim Laudner says, "And they look mortified. It just shows how Minnesotans are so different. They're so protective of their teams. I mean, look at what they did to embrace (Brett Favre ).áPeople would go crazy here if Mauer ever left, especially with the new stadium." Lemme ask you this: How many ...

With his days as shortstop behind him, Miguel Tejada is set to begin this season as the Orioles primary third baseman: Throughout two productive years with the Houston Astros, during which he hit .298 with 27 homers and 152 RBI, Tejada was twice selected to the National League All-Star team. He never lost his passion for winning or his ability to drive in runs, and when the six-year, $72 million deal ...

Shortly after Adrian Beltre signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox, it became apparent that Beltre left a nice chunk of change on the table. Beltre only got $9 million guaranteed from the Red Sox, a far cry from the five-year, $65 million deal that agent Scott Boras was looking for. But there is another interesting sub-plot to the Adrian Beltre signing. Back in December, Beltre declined the Mariners' arbitration ...