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Fox Sports:
Sources: MLB playoffs expanding in 2012 — Baseball's playoffs will expand from eight to 10 teams, starting this season, according to major-league sources. — The sport's new collective-barganing agreement stipulated that additional wild cards would be added in each league no later than 2013.
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The LoHud Yankees Blog, MetsBlog.com, True Blue LA, Extra Baggs, Pinstripe Alley, Lookout Landing, NESN.com, MLB Daily Dish, CBS New York, MLB Rumors and YFSF
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Fox Sports:
Expanded playoffs are good for baseball — At first, I opposed expanding the baseball postseason. — Hardly anyone contended that the playoffs were too short. If anything, the postseason was too long. — I'm still concerned that baseball's decision to add a wild card in each league …
Buster Olney / MLB:
Sources: MLB, union closer to 10-team playoffs — On the eve of Thursday's soft deadline for finalizing details of the implementation of a 10-team playoff field, Major League Baseball and its players association are close to announcing the change that would take effect in October, sources said Wednesday.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Rangers' signing of Dominican phenom Jairo Beras is investigated by MLB over age discrepancy — Major League Baseball will investigate the Texas Rangers' signing of Dominican prospect Jairo Beras for $4.5 million after questions about his age arose. The Rangers believe he is 17 and eligible …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Rumors
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Rangers' Surprise Signing Draws Industry Scrutiny — The Rangers reportedly have agreed to a deal with one of the top prospects in the Dominican Republic, but the deal has set off confusion and outrage through the industry because most organizations—including Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Beras, Soler, Braun — Talking baseball: 1. Uh, oh. This could get ugly. One source in the Dominican Republic has reported that The Next Big Thing in Latin America, outfielder Jairo Beras, has agreed to a $4.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers, and the signing raises questions.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers, Axford talking multi-year deal — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Phoenix — There's a good reason that closer John Axford is the last player on the Brewers' 40-man roster to sign a contract for the 2012 season. — Assistant general manager Gord Ash confirmed Wednesday …
Discussion:
Brew Beat, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Disciples of Uecker
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Crew, Axford to continue work on multiyear deal — Both sides say they'd like contract extension; talks cordial — PHOENIX — Brewers closer John Axford was quick to explain why he's the only member of the 40-man roster yet to sign a 2012 contract. — “Just like last year, I'm holding out for billions,” he joked.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Al's Ramblings
Associated Press:
Marlins RF prefers Giancarlo Stanton — JUPITER, Fla. — His mom calls him Cruz. Teammates call him Bigfoot. Most baseball fans know him as Mike Stanton, precocious slugger for the Miami Marlins, but his first name is actually Giancarlo. — “The man of a million names,” Stanton said.
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Fox Sports, Fish Stripes, Deadspin and MLB Rumors
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Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Miami Marlins slugger will go by a new name — Giancarlo Stanton
Miami Marlins slugger will go by a new name — Giancarlo Stanton
Discussion:
HardballTalk and NotGraphs Baseball
Associated Press:
Pirates' Burnett struck in right eye by batted ball … BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett was struck in the face by a batted ball on Wednesday, and will fly from the team's spring training complex to Pittsburgh to have his right eye examined by team doctors.
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ESPN
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Burnett to Pittsburgh for exam on injured eye
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Howard sidelined indefinitely — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Ryan Howard has indeed suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely following a procedure to clean an infection from his original wound. — Foot specialist Mark Myerson performed a …
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HardballTalk
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Bob Brookover / Boston Herald:
Phillies awaiting word on Ryan Howard's Achilles injury
Phillies awaiting word on Ryan Howard's Achilles injury
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Final night of '11 still resonates with Rays — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Luke Scott called the final night of the 2011 season “the greatest night in baseball history,” and that seems to be the general sentiment among fans and players alike. — Rays fans won't soon forget that night at Tropicana Field …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Britt's Bird Watch and HardballTalk
Nathan Rode / Baseball America:
Giolito Hits Triple Digits — Los Angeles Times' high school reporter Eric Sondheimer tweeted breaking news Tuesday evening that Harvard-Westlake High (Studio City, Calif.) righthander Lucas Giolito hit 100 mph in a start against El Camino Real High (Woodland Hills, Calif.).
Doug Glanville / ESPN:
Appreciating Chipper Jones — Longtime Atlanta Brave has been killing opponents softly for a long, long time — Baseball locker rooms are full of debates. Players often debate the best slider in the game, the best infield grass, maybe even the best postgame spread.
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MLB