Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Berkman: Selig ‘extorted’ Astros into AL move — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman said Tuesday that Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig “extorted” new Houston Astros owner Jim Crane into changing leagues as a precondition of the sale of the franchise in November.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, NESN.com and Ultimate Astros
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Jason Bourgeois, Humberto Quintero — 5:36pm: Luhnow told reporters (including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart) that the player to be named later will be the “key component” of the trade (Twitter links). Astros Sr. Director of Social Media Alyson Footer says it'll be a while before that player is named, however.
Discussion:
Baseball America, Yahoo! Sports and The Crawfish Boxes
Dominic Massa / WWL-TV:
Mel Parnell, N.O. native and former Red Sox pitcher, dies at 89 — NEW ORLEANS - Mel Parnell, the New Orleans native who went on to a star career in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, died Tuesday. He was 89. — Parnell spent his entire 10-year career with Boston, from 1947 to 1956.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Derek Holland signs 5-year deal — SURPRISE, Ariz.— Left-handed pitcher Derek Holland signed a five-year contract extension with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday morning. — The deal is worth $28.5 million, with club options for 2017 ($11 million) and 2018 ($11.5 million), a source said.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
SportsDayDFW sports / Rangers Blog:
Sources: Rangers sign LHP Derek Holland to extension
Sources: Rangers sign LHP Derek Holland to extension
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington, Bleacher Report, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com and HardballTalk
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Neftali Feliz exits with stiff shoulder — MESA, Ariz. — Texas Rangers right-handed starter Neftali Feliz did not come out to pitch for the fourth inning on Tuesday because of right shoulder stiffness. — The team said he will continue to be evaluated. — Feliz threw 49 pitches …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and FanGraphs Baseball
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Padres sign Nick Hundley long term, block prospect Yasmani Grandal's path to the majors — Nick Hundley and the Padres have agreed to a multi-year contract that covers 2013 and 2014 while including a team option for 2015. — Hundley was already signed for $2 million this season …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, FanGraphs Baseball, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Rumors and baseballmusings.com
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod instrumental as Yanks' bats erupt — TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs to continue his productive spring as the Yankees batted around in a five-run fourth, defeating the Pirates, 10-3, in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Millwood, Iwakuma stake claims to roster spots — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood bolstered his bid for a starting spot in the Mariners' rotation on Tuesday, while Hisashi Iwakuma pitched three innings of shutout ball in relief in what might foreshadow his immediate future for Seattle.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Strasburg sharp, bats held in check vs. Mets — Righty fans three, allows two hits, one run over five innings — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If the Mets and Nationals have their way, youngsters Lucas Duda and Stephen Strasburg will square off plenty of times going forward in National League East play.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Sports Illustrated:
Johnny Damon's strange new role: the best player without a job … Opening Day, two weeks in the offing stateside, likely will be without Johnny Damon in the big leagues for the first time since 1995, when he was a 21-year-old prospect in the Kansas City Royals system.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts and MLB Rumors
MLB:
Tigers 3B Cabrera has small fracture under eye — Miguel Cabrera Injured By Ground Ball — Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera was bloodied after taking a ground ball to the face. — Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera suffered a small fracture in the bone under his right eye …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Seattle Times, Bleacher Report, baseballmusings.com and ESPN.com
Philly.com:
David Murphy: Utley's career could be in jeopardy — CLEARWATER, Fla. - An era is supposed to last longer than elementary school. Second basemen are supposed to last longer than senators. Six years might be a long time between albums, but it can't be all the time we'll get to watch Chase Utley at his peak.
RELATED:
Daniel Rathman / Baseball Prospectus:
The BP First Take — Have you already penciled the Phillies …
The BP First Take — Have you already penciled the Phillies …
Discussion:
The Good Phight, csnphilly.com and HardballTalk
Kieran Darcy / ESPN:
Pettitte on joining Yanks: I feel like I never left — TAMPA, Fla. — Andy Pettitte officially reported to Yankees camp on Tuesday, threw his first bullpen session, and said afterward, “I feel like I never left.” — “I am a little surprised that I felt as good as I did today …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Pollock's homer gives D-backs walk-off win — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A.J. Pollock belted a walk-off solo homer Tuesday afternoon to give the D-backs a 4-3 victory over the Giants in front of 12,575, a Salt River Fields record crowd. — The Giants jumped on D-backs top prospect Trevor Bauer in the first …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit