Top News:
MLB.com:
‘No regrets’: Giles calls it a career — Balky knee stops outfielder's comeback try with Dodgers — Brian Giles' right knee didn't feel right, so the veteran outfielder did what felt right. — Giles, 39, announced his retirement Thursday morning, a month after having signed …
RELATED:
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Report: Los Angeles Dodgers Ronald Belisario misses chances to help clear up visa problems — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, who still hasn't reported to spring training because of visa problems in his native Venezuela, missed three appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, a Venezuelan newspaper reported.
Ben Jedlovec / Hardball Times:
Brian Giles, Hall of Fame Class of 2016? — Ted Williams? Babe Ruth? Lou Gehrig? How about Brian Giles? — The Cleveland Indians drafted Brian Stephen Giles out of Granite Hills High School (just east of San Diego) in the 17th round of the 1989 draft.
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Giles retires after 15 seasons — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The battle for the Dodgers' left-handed pinch-hitting spot was reduced to two players on Thursday after non-roster outfielder Brian Giles, a 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star, retired from baseball. Giles was with the Padres last season but has not played since June 18.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Lone Star Ball, Lookout Landing, River Avenue Blues, Yahoo! Sports, Bucs Dugout and MLB Daily Dish
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Ruben Tejada could be New York Mets shortstop on Opening Day in Jose Reyes' absence — PORT ST. LUCIE - The Opening Day shortstop for the Mets? With Jose Reyes expected to open the season on the disabled list, it very well could be Ruben Tejada. — The 20-year-old middle infielder hit .289 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New York Mets Fan Blog, FanGraphs Baseball, New Jersey Online and Mets Fever
RELATED:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Guillen defends Latin players — GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen responded on Thursday to comments Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter made to USA Today about Latin players. — In the article, Hunter said: “People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Bay's state of mind — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Though he sat in the dugout sipping periodically from a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, caffeine addict Jason Bay said that he wasn't there to talk about his health, about the offseason, about Boston's failed bid to keep their left fielder.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Helton gets two-year extension, will be Rockie for life — Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. He is in his 34th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and appears on pre- and postgame shows for Colorado Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain.
RELATED:
RADAR:
Baseball Player Jason Kendall Name Checks Two Others In Baseball Drug Scandal — Shocking divorce papers filed by Jason Kendall's estranged wife Chantel have placed the Kansas City Royals catcher at the center of a new baseball drugs scandal involving Adderall.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Inside How the Sale of the Texas Rangers Gets Done — It's been nearly a year since Tom Hicks began exploring the sale of the Texas Rangers. Hicks Sports Group, who is $525 million in debt, put the team up for sale in late March of last year. — When there is a debt component in play, there are creditors to contend with.
Andy Katz / ESPN:
UConn coach Jim Calhoun signs extension with Connecticut Huskies — Two-time national championship and Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun will return to Connecticut for his 25th season. He agreed to a four-year contract extension with the school on Thursday. — Calhoun, who will turn 68 in May …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Polanco might have accepted arbitration — Second baseman left Tigers in offseason to rejoin Phils — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Placido Polanco looks at home in the Phillies' clubhouse, even if he has to make third base his new home position. He spent enough years here before being traded to the Tigers in 2005 that it's a natural fit.
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Eddie Guardado caught by surprise by release — In his 17 years of professional baseball, Eddie Guardado had never been released before this morning, when the Washington Nationals included him in their first round of cuts. — “They caught him totally, pretty much, by surprise,” said Kevin Kohler, Guardado's agent.
Discussion:
William World News
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Retooled delivery benefits Silva — Cubs righty scatters four hits over three scoreless frames — PEORIA, Ariz. — Carlos Silva was excited to pitch on Thursday, a feeling he hasn't had in a couple years. — The right-hander made his second spring start for the Cubs and threw three scoreless innings …
Discussion:
Cubs f/x
Daniel Barbarisi / Providence Journal:
Lester speaks out on dangers of maple bats — FORT MYERS, Fla. — In the second inning of Wednesday's Red Sox spring-training game at City of Palms Park, Adrian Beltre's maple bat shattered and struck Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price on the right (non-pitching hand) in what was seemingly a freak incident.
Tom Krasovic / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Sources: Kevin Towers Joining Yankees — Kevin Towers, the former Padres general manager, is joining the Yankees as a special assistant to general manager Brian Cashman, according to two major league sources. — Towers willl start with the Yankees next week in Tampa after being introduced on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, River Avenue Blues, Over the Monster, TYU, Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB Daily Dish and The iYankees Blog
