David Price Presents Dilemma For Rays

So now what do the Rays do with David Price?

Tampa Bay Times

Jason Bartlett Decides To Retire

Mike Bernardino Twitter

Jason Bartlett Signs Minor League Deal, Invited To Twins Camp

The Twins signed infielder Jason Bartlett to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training, the club announced Monday.

Minnesota Official Site

Jamey Wright, Cesar Ramos Managed To Save Rays' Lead

In Wednesday night's 10-4 win over the Blue Jays, the Rays built a big lead and managed to keep it, using only two relievers in the process.

Tampa Bay Official Site

Cardinals Trying To Trade For Heath Bell, Jason Bartlett

When it comes to relievers, the Padres, according to multiple officials, want to get out in the market quickly with Heath Bell and Chad Qualls; word is the Cardinals are trying to land Bell and shortstop Jason Bartlett. The Yankees are more interested in Mike Adams, who is earmarked as San Diego’s closer of the future and would come with that price tag. Washington is willing to move ex-Yankee Tyler Clippard, but specifically is looking for a center fielder and has focused on the Rays’ B.J. Upton.

NY Post

Ryan Ludwick Taking To The Road Like An All-Star

The road has been kind to Padres left fielder Ryan Ludwick recently, and San Diego's nine-game road trip that begins Monday could potentially land him a spot on the National League's All-Star roster.

Padres Official Site

A Respectful Dissent To Jason Bartlett Case

Since the NFL legal eagles have swooped into town and we're all apparently pulling on our Clarence Darrow costumes and presenting arguments to the masses, I respectfully submit this dissent to the case made earlier today by my colleague Jeff Gordon in Gordo's Zone.

Birdland

The Case For Acquiring Jason Bartlett

Selling off parts is a summer ritual for the San Diego Padres. And when that occurs, national experts believe the Cardinals will be front and center in the bidding.

Tipsheet

Ryan Ludwick Vying For Second Trip To All-Star Game

Runs have been hard to come by for the Padres in the first two months of the season, though San Diego left fielder Ryan Ludwick is trying to do something about that.

Padres Official Site

Cardinals Going After Heath Bell, Jason Bartlett A Good Thing?

And it would make a lot of sense for the St. Louis Cardinals to work hard on a Bell deal. It would be interesting to see if St. Louis would expand the talks with San Diego in an effort to land a shortstop -- Jason Bartlett, who the Cardinals tried to land in the offseason.

ESPN

Revisiting The Shortstop Swap Meet

Short of putting an ad on Craig's List, the St. Louis Cardinals made it clear around the winter meetings that they had a shortstop to move this offseason and they wanted a minor-league arm in return, OBO.

Birdland

A Season Later, Ryan Ludwick Still Lost In San Diego

Maybe trading away Ryan Ludwick wasn’t such a ridiculous idea after all.

Many Cardinal fans seemed unwilling to forgive general manager John Mozeliak for dealing away the popular Ludwick last season in a three-way trade to land pitcher Jake Westbook.

STL Today

1919 Cardinals Had Run Woes Too

For all the teeth-gnashing that occurred when the Cardinals started the season by amassing three or fewer runs in each of their first six games, consider what it must have been like in 1919, the last time the Cardinals started so futilely.

STL Today

Tony LaRussa Once Starred (As Pinch Runner) In Opener

The Cardinals' Tony La Russa is starting his 32nd consecutive season as a big-league manager today, counting his years with the Chicago White Sox, whom he directed in the 1980 season opener, and the Oakland Athletics. Half of those 32 have been here with the Cardinals.

Cardinal Beat

Here's How Padres Stack Up Against Cardinals

When the Cardinals open the season Thursday, March 31, against the Padres at St. Louis, here is the likely San Diego lineup they will face:

Retro Simba

Ryan Ludwick Among Group Of Padres On Mend; Jarrett Hoffpauir Eager To Make Most Of Final Week

San Diego manager Bud Black said Wednesday that Ryan Ludwick -- who in the past 10 days has fouled two balls off his left shin -- would be in the lineup on Thursday, when the Padres travel to Surprise to face the Rangers.

Padres Official Site

Five Year Probabilistic Model Of Range: Shortstops

The long term fielding study continues with a look at shortstops. (See yesterday’s post for background.) The following table shows how the teams performed as a whole at the position over the last five years:

Baseball Musings

Ten Stories To Watch Around Baseball

STL Today

Ryan Ludwick Not Going Anywhere

Do you think Ryan Ludwick will continue playing outfield for San Diego or will he be traded before the season starts?
-- Jose H., Yuma, Ariz.

I don't think Ludwick is going anywhere, especially since the team has parted ways with Gonzalez. The Padres need to keep Ludwick because he's really the only true thumper in the lineup. Remember, one of the reasons the Padres liked Ludwick so much at the Trade Deadline -- other than he was added to give the offense a lift -- was that he was controllable for 2011 (he's arbitration-eligible). He'll be the left fielder on Opening Day and beyond and will hit either third or fourth in the order.

Padres Official Site

Source: Kyle Farnsworth Nears One-Year Deal With Rays

Free agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth is approaching an agreement on a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Sports Illustrated