Top News:
Associated Press:
Orioles sign two-time All-Star left-hander Willis — SARASOTA, Fla. — Dontrelle Willis and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a minor league contract. — The 30-year-old lefty, who won 22 games in 2005, was released by the Philadelphia Phillies on March 16.
Discussion:
Bats
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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:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
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 and Ultimate Astros
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
GM Alderson: Mets to stick with austerity plan — Mets on Twitter — PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets aren't rebuilding, they are going through an “evolutionary process,” according to general manager Sandy Alderson. And evolution doesn't speed up just because ownership no longer has a clawback lawsuit clouding its future.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and New York Post
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:
U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Shoppach goes deep in loss to Blue Jays — In bid to win rotation job, Bard yields three runs over five frames — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Kelly Shoppach launched his first homer and right-hander Daniel Bard was strong in four of his five innings during the Red Sox's 9-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night at JetBlue Park.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
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:
The Crawfish Boxes, Seedlings to Stars, Baseball America and Yahoo! Sports
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:
FanGraphs Baseball and 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
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
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
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:
FanGraphs Baseball, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Rumors, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com