Spring Training Notes - 2/21

Tino Martinez has officially joined ESPN as a Baseball Tonight analyst. Tino will make about 45 apperances, mostly on the weekend edition.

Manny Ramirez has been given clearance by the Red Sox to report to camp March 1st. That's only day after the mandatory reporting date and leaves just one day before Ramirez joins the WBC. Hopefully this just adds to more discord in Beantown.
Update 2/22 - Ramirez has withdrawn from the WBC - no reason has been given

Alex Rodriguez bit his tongue when asked about recent comments by Ozzie Guillen. A-Rod has had his share of verbal attacks since coming to the Bronx, but still prefers to let his bat do the talking in response. There has also been some talk about A-Rod possibly playing shortstop in the WBC. Will Derek Jeter accept coming off the bench?

Gary Sheffield reported to camp today and met with GM Brian Cashman. Sheffield's take was that the Yankees will be picking up his $13 million option for 2007. Neither Cashman, nor owner George Steinbrenner, would give a straight answer when asked.

Why even give a hint of this to Sheffield? Stop teh complaining before it starts?