Top News:
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Manuel is no fan of baseball's latest playoff change — CLEARWATER, Fla. - In Charlie Manuel's perfect baseball universe, the best teams in each league at the end of the regular season would meet in the World Series every year. — That's the way it was when the Phillies manager …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Ronald Blum / Globe and Mail:
No hard deadline for MLB expanded playoffs — Negotiators for baseball players and owners say there is no set deadline for an agreement to expand the playoffs to 10 teams this season. — The sides have said for weeks a deal is likely. When players and owners signed their agreement …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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 …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Buster Olney / MLB:
Sources: MLB, union closer to 10-team playoffs
Sources: MLB, union closer to 10-team playoffs
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Royals Review and Plain Dealer
Associated Press:
Pirates' pitcher A.J. Burnett to undergo surgery for orbital fracture … PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a fractured right orbital bone. — The right-hander injured himself on Wednesday at the team's spring training facilities in Bradenton …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Bucs Dugout, Associated Press and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Hal: “189 is a real number, and we're going to be shooting for it” — Ever since the new CBA was announced, there has been plenty written and said about the Yankees desire to get below the $189-million luxury tax threshold in two years. This morning, Hal Steinbrenner confirmed all of those stories …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Mariners Sign Lefty Alexandre Roy From France — The Mariners have been one of the leaders in signing European prospects, and now they can add a French lefthander to their collection of international farmhands with their recent signing of Alexandre Roy, a 16-year-old from Rouen, France.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Lookout Landing
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Rangers look to put the memory of Game 6 to rest — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington looks around the clubhouse, stares into his players' eyes, and his mind starts spinning. — This is the first time they've been together since that dreary plane ride home in October.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Cespedes expected to make arrival soon — PHOENIX — The wait could soon be over. — There's a strong possibility that Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will make his highly-anticipated arrival at A's camp by weekend's end, nearly three weeks after news broke of his four-year, $36 million contract.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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
RELATED:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Rangers' Surprise Signing Draws Industry Scrutiny
Rangers' Surprise Signing Draws Industry Scrutiny
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Beras, Soler, Braun
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Baseball is on the menu for Sox — FORT MYERS — Let the games begin. — Well, sort of. — In an attempt to give a few of the 35 pitchers in camp an additional chance to throw some innings, the Red Sox [team stats] have added a B-game to the schedule.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Sam Mellinger / Kansas City Star:
Perez's signing may help lock up Hosmer, too — Catcher's new long-term deal may help Royals land their superstar first baseman as well. At least, that's the plan. — SURPRISE, AZ. — You will be interested to hear one of the first things Salvador Perez did as a millionaire.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Royals Review
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels slugger Kendrys Morales taking steps forward — Kendrys Morales leads the Angels out of the locker room prior to a spring training baseball practice on Monday. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press) — Tempe, Ariz.— Angels slugger Kendrys Morales, sidelined for the last year …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Mark Trumbo cleared for activity
Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
Mets pitcher Dillon Gee embraces Pilates to gain an edge — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Surrounded by women this winter in a Texas shopping center and fastened into a contraption called “The Reformer,” Mets starter Dillon Gee vacillated between attempting to “fire” his abdominal muscles and wondering what the heck he was doing.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and HardballTalk
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Miami Marlins slugger will go by a new name — Giancarlo Stanton — Batting fourth for the Miami Marlins, right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. That's how slugger Mike Stanton will be introduced from now on. — Starting Monday when he is introduced over the public-address system at Roger Dean Stadium …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Eye on Baseball and NotGraphs Baseball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Marlins RF prefers Giancarlo Stanton
Marlins RF prefers Giancarlo Stanton
Discussion:
Extra Baggs, Fox Sports, MLB Rumors, Fish Stripes and Deadspin
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:
MLB Rumors, FanGraphs Baseball, Brew Beat and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Crew, Axford to continue work on multiyear deal
Crew, Axford to continue work on multiyear deal
Discussion:
Brew Beat, MLB Daily Dish and Al's Ramblings