Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals make second round of cuts — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals made their second round of roster cuts on Friday. — They optioned pitchers Adam Carr and Garrett Mock to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigned first basemen Michael Aubrey and Kevin Barker, outfielders Jeff Frazier and Jonathan Van Every …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ramos appears likely to back up Pudge — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman declined to say who is winning the battle between Jesus Flores and Wilson Ramos for the backup role behind the plate. But it's pretty clear it's Ramos. — Entering Friday's action against the Astros …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nix not concerned about leaving Nationals — VIERA, Fla. — It was reported on Thursday that the Astros are in a need of a left-handed bat off the bench and are eyeing Nationals outfielder Laynce Nix, who signed a Minor League deal with Washington last month. — Nix is considered to be one of the best bench players in baseball.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg to resign — Chuck Greenberg, the Pittsburgh sports attorney who for more than a year headed an investment group that gained control of the Texas Rangers' ownership in August, could announce as soon as today that he is resigning to pursue other interests.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Greenberg leaves Rangers; Ryan named CEO — Hall of Famer will oversee both baseball, business operations — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers' ownership group, which was intended to bring stability to a franchise that had experienced a difficult period, is undergoing a major change.
Discussion:
The Captain's Blog
Chris Fedor / Sports Radio Interviews:
Cliff Lee Made One Thing Clear This Offseason: Winning is the Most Important Thing — This past offseason, Cliff Lee was the number one free agent on the market and many people around baseball felt like Lee was headed to the Big Apple. However, Cliff Lee threw one of his devastating curveballs …
Discussion:
Philly.com, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Mike Silva's …
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Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
Phillies GM Amaro might be in line for contract extension
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball, Phillies Nation, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Sign Ruben Amaro Jr. To Extension
Discussion:
We Should Be GMs
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Matsuzaka and Okajima react to disaster in Japan — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima believe their immediate families survived the massive earthquake that struck off the northeast coast of Japan and triggered deadly tsunami waves.
Discussion:
Fenway West and NESN.com
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Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Romero given Blue Jays' Opening Day nod — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Ricky Romero was forced to take a long road to the Major Leagues, but once he got there, the native of East Los Angeles found a quick path to success. — That was further validated on Friday, when the Blue Jays announced that Romero …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Eye on Baseball
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Associated Press:
Dempster Goes 5 Shutout Innings, Cubs Beat Chisox — GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Dempster appears ready to take the mound on Opening Day. — The Chicago Cubs' No. 1 starter shut out the Chicago White Sox for five innings Friday as the Cubs hung on late to beat their crosstown rival 4-3.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Associated Press
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's Viciedo fractures right thumb
Discussion:
MLB.com and South Side Sox
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Peavy's status, utility role up in the air
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and AZ Snakepit
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Saito leaves Brewers camp after Japan quake — PHOENIX, Ariz. — The massive earthquake that struck Japan on Friday devastated the hometown of Brewers reliever Takashi Saito, who left Spring Training camp to attempt to contact loved ones. — Saito has been in contact with his wife, Yukiko …
Discussion:
Bats, USA Today and HardballTalk
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Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
For the love of Bryce Harper: Get ready, Washington. You're about to fall head over heels for the Nationals' newest star. — The first thing you do is, you go over and grab one of those iron rods - rebar, it's called - from the pile. It may weigh 50 pounds, maybe 80, maybe more.
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer and Nationals Journal
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Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Bryce Harper will survive cuts today
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball, The Goessling Game and The Nationals Enquirer
Lynn Henning / Detroit News:
Jim Leyland blasts media: 'I'm tired' of Miguel Cabrera questions — Jupiter, Fla.— Tigers manager Jim Leyland showed both his frustration with the Miguel Cabrera crisis and his resolve to get Cabrera “into baseball shape” during a pithy press briefing ahead of Friday's game against the Cardinals game at Roger Dean Stadium.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and HardballTalk
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Ka'aihue is anointed, but it doesn't always translate — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Six springs ago, a first baseman named Calvin Pickering rolled into Kansas City Royals camp on the wave of a movement. Every year or two, the sabermetric community picks a new cause célèbre to champion …
Discussion:
ESPN and MLB Rumors
New York Post:
Mets on Twitter — PORT ST. LUCIE — This was late last year when David Wright had the haggard appearance of a hostage rather than a baseball player. A time when I thought he might start blinking Morse code in his next TV interview as a way to transmit, “Don't believe my words; get me out of here.”
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog.com, NY Daily News and MLB Rumors
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Chris Carpenter passes final test before return — JUPITER, Fla. — Righthander Chris Carpenter, the likely Opening Day starter for the Cardinals, threw what he estimated to be some 60 pitches this morning as some young Cardinals hitters stood in against him.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Eye on Baseball
