Top News:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Ryan Braun Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Suspended — Ryan Braun has won the appeal of his failed banned substance test and will not be suspended for the first 50 games of the season, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel. The union officially announced the win, saying both parties agreed …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Brew Beat, Halos Heaven and Baseball Nation
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Braun wins appeal of 50-game suspension — Panel votes 2-1 to overturn NL MVP's suspected violation — PHOENIX — The verdict is in for National League MVP Ryan Braun: Not guilty. — The Brewers outfielder is the first Major Leaguer to successfully appeal a suspected violation of MLB's Drug Treatment and Prevention Program.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and By Gosh, It's Langosch
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Ryan Braun wins appeal of positive drug test — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun became the first major-league player to have a positive drug test overturned when he was informed Thursday that an arbitration panel ruled …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, Pinstripe Alley, Red Hot Mama, Deadspin and Baseball Nation
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Bobby Jenks details surgery nightmare — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — FORT MYERS — Now we know why Bobby Jenks isn't going to pitch anytime soon, if at all this year: He's been living a nightmare. — This morning at JetBlue [JBLU] Park …
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Boston Globe
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Associated Press:
Scary offseason for Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks — FORT MYERS, Fla.—If Bobby Jenks' first season with the Boston Red Sox was difficult, his offseason was worse. — In 2011, the first of a two-year, $12 million contract with Boston, Jenks was limited by several ailments …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The harrowing tale of Bobby Jenks
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Source: Oswalt willing to join team midseason … After waiting until spring training and failing to land a job to his satisfaction, free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt has told major league clubs that he might pull a Roger Clemens and return midseason, according to a baseball source. — Oswalt
Dejan Kovacevic / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Pirates president Coonelly charged with DUI — Pirates president Frank Coonelly has been charged with four counts related to drunken driving in Ross, the Tribune-Review has learned. — Ross Township police arrested Coonelly, 51, of Sewickley on Dec. 22 and charged him with drunken driving …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Big Lead, Yahoo! Sports, Bucs Dugout and Where Have You Gone …
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Yanks, Russell Martin talking — TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees have proposed ripping up Russell Martin's new one-year contract and giving him a three-year deal, his agent Matt Colleran told ESPNNewYork.com. — If the two sides were to come to an agreement, it would make Martin a Yankee through 2014.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, River Avenue Blues, Pinstripe Alley and HardballTalk
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB players pained by first HGH testing, oppose it in-season — PEORIA, Ariz. - Major League Baseball players, submitting to human growth hormone tests for the first time, said they're opposed to in-season testing after enduring adverse effects this spring from giving blood.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Danny Valentine / St. Petersburg Times:
Drug charges send former Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes to jail again — TAMPA — Former Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested early Thursday after he tried to eat a plastic bag of marijuana and had marijuana blunt tucked behind his ear, police said. — The 27-year-old Tampa man was pulled …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Selig Pushes for Expanded Playoffs in 2012, Decision in No More Than a Week — (L-R) Rob Manfred, Bud Selig, and Michael Weiner at the announcement of the new MLB — labor deal. As part of the agreement, a decision on expanded playoffs in 2012 needs to be — determined no later than a week from today.
Mike Kerwick / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' sluggers can see the writing on the wall — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A group of fans tried to stop Daniel Murphy on his way out to Field No. 7. Earlier in the morning, he had signed every bat, glove and piece of paper handed his way. — But now he had an appointment.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Bats
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Fox Sports:
Marlins' salary plan may anger union — The minimum salary in the new collective-bargaining agreement increased from $414,000 to $480,000, giving even the lowest-paid players a handsome wage. — Baseball's economic system, however, allows clubs to otherwise determine the salaries of players …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, NESN.com and Miami Marlins
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Rasmus arrives; nearly entire club in camp — Escobar, Encarnacion expected to join teammates Friday — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Center fielder Colby Rasmus became the latest Blue Jays position player to report to camp in advance of Friday's mandatory deadline. — Rasmus arrived at Florida …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Steinbrenner: Mo ‘obviously a lifelong Yankee’ — Team would welcome closer back should he choose to continue — TAMPA, Fla. — If closer Mariano Rivera wants to remain a Yankee beyond the upcoming season when his current contract expires, he certainly will be welcome back …
Josh Leventhal / Baseball America:
Selig Calls International Draft ‘Inevitable’ — MLB pushed through significant changes to its draft in the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, and commissioner Bud Selig says the changes aren't done. — While discussing the state of the game in an interview with Baseball America on Tuesday …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Keith Law / ESPN:
Future 50: Buxton No. 1 — The prep center fielder tops Insider's first MLB draft board for 2012 — The college baseball season kicked off last Friday and high schools are underway across the southern U.S., making this a good time for my first ranking of the top 50 prospects for the 2012 Rule 4 draft.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and MLB Daily Dish
