Top News:
Paul Casella / MLB.com:
Shortstop Signed Through 2015, With Club Options For '16 And '17 — The Royals agreed to a multiyear extension with shortstop Alcides Escobar on Thursday, signing the middle infielder for four guaranteed years through the 2015 season with club options for each of the following two years.
Discussion:
Royals Review, Baseball Prospectus, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Royals Extend Alcides Escobar
Discussion:
Royals Review and MLB Daily Dish
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang strains hamstring while fielding vs. Yanks — Nats right-hander stumbles attempting to record out at first base — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang left Thursday's game against the Yankees in the third inning after falling down while running toward first base after fielding a ground ball.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Associated Press:
Nats' Wang leaves game with strained hammy — VIERA, Fla. — Washington Nationals pitcher Chien-Ming Wang left Thursday's start in the third inning with a strained left hamstring after colliding with Russell Martin of the New York Yankees. — Wang fielded a slow roller by Martin and tried to make the play at first base.
Will Leitch / GQ:
Is Baseball Ready for Bryce? — Dear MLB: Please don't muzzle the most entertaining prospect since Babe Ruth. Thank you, fans everywhere — “F**k!!!” This is Bryce Harper—the erstwhile pastime's answer to LeBron James, Mozart child prodigy of the great game.
Discussion:
Washington Post, HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, Oriole Post, Nats Enquirer and THE BOOK
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander fans eight, Tigers rally to top O's — LAKELAND, Fla. — Justin Verlander struck out eight of the 14 Orioles batters he faced but still found himself on the short end for much of Thursday afternoon before Gerald Laird's two-run single paced a three-run sixth in a 4-2 win for the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Camden Chat and Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Aroldis Chapman's fastball is losing its zip — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Two years into the Aroldis Chapman experiment and it's still just that: an experiment, full of potential and pratfalls, of amazing moments and even more confounding ones. The hypothesis was that the Cuban kid who throws …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation and Cincinnati Reds
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Hall of Famer George Brett speaks his mind about future eligible players — The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a hallowed place and as one of its members, George Brett knows he also plays an important role as one of its stewards. — That means not being afraid to speak …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Zito Strong Again as Giants Top Mariners — PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Barry Zito managed to turn in a solid spring start despite throwing his curveball and fastball higher in the strike zone than he wanted. — The veteran left-hander struck out four in four innings, Brandon Crawford hit …
Associated Press:
Norris Grand Slam in Ninth Lifts A's — SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland manager Bob Melvin wasn't surprised by Jemile Weeks' power display. — Weeks homered from both sides of the plate, Cliff Pennington added four hits and Derek Norris capped a five-run ninth inning with a grand slam …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Alfredo Aceves values moment — One way or another, he knows worth — FORT MYERS — Regardless of whether he begins the season as a starter or a reliever, Alfredo Aceves wants to be described in one word. — Valuable. — In four innings yesterday against a St. Louis Cardinals travel squad …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Reyes Gets 1st Look at Mets as Opponent — JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Jose Reyes stepped into the on-deck circle, turned toward the New York Mets' dugout and bowed. — Hard feelings, nowhere to be found. — The Miami Marlins shortstop faced his former team for the first time Thursday …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' bullpen picture still fuzzy — MESA, Ariz. — What will the Chicago Cubs do with Travis Wood if he doesn't make the rotation? — Would Wood go to Triple-A Iowa and start if he doesn't make it, or take a bullpen spot? — “That's going to be an interesting decision for that long guy as well …
