Read: Today in the NL East
The biggest news in the NL East today is that the Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms with third baseman Chipper Jones on a 3 year contract extension worth in excess of $40 million.
Chipper was set to become a free agent after the 2009 season. The new contract will run through the 2012 campaign with a vesting option for 2013.
Over at Phillies camp, pitching coach Rich Dubee officially ruled Cole Hamels out for Sunday night’s opener against the Braves.
Brett Myers or Joe Blanton will get the nod in Hamels’ place.
And this just in…Philadelphia has also just released veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins.
An interesting story surrounding the potential number one pick in the upcoming June amateur draft has been developing. Agent Scott Boras is said to be asking for $50 million over 6 years for the consensus top pick, Stephen Strasburg.
The Washington Nationals pick first and President Stan Kasten has said, “We intend to take the best player; we know what No. 1s get and we intend to sign that player.”
…Strasburg is not your ordinary #1 pick so whether the Nationals, who are known to be cheap, actually draft and sign Strasburg remains to be seen.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
