Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks add catcher Stewart, option Cervelli — The Yankees completed a trade on Wednesday that held ramifications for their Opening Day roster, sending right-hander George Kontos to the Giants for veteran catcher Chris Stewart. New York also optioned catcher Francisco Cervelli …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Pettitte pitches inning in Yankees' win — TAMPA, Fla.—Andy Pettitte threw a scoreless inning in his first game since ending a one-year retirement and the New York Yankees beat the New York Mets 8-3 on Wednesday. — Many of the announced crowd of 10,813 at Steinbrenner Field gave Pettitte …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Garcia fans four as Yanks wrap up spring
Garcia fans four as Yanks wrap up spring
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Pinstripe Alley
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Valentine names Aceves the closer — DETROIT — A few bits of news from Bobby Valentine's press conference just now: — • Alfredo Aceves is the closer. — “On the days when Alfredo's not available, if Mark Melancon is available, he'll be doing it. I think the guys leading up to that will be very credible,” Valentine said.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Baseball Nation and the joy of sox
RELATED:
Michael Vega / Boston Globe:
Surgery for Bailey; he's out 3-4 months — WASHINGTON - Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey will have reconstructive surgery on his right thumb Wednesday in Cleveland and will be out 3-4 months, the team announced Tuesday. — Bailey was examined by team doctors Monday in Boston, then by Dr. Thomas Graham Tuesday in Cleveland.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and The Soxaholix
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Surgery for Bailey on Wednesday
Surgery for Bailey on Wednesday
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Fox Sports
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Mets sign Jon Niese to five-year, $25.5 million contract — Jon Niese's long-term contract with the Mets is now official, with Andy McCullough of the Newark Star Ledger reporting that the five-year deal is worth $25.5 million in guaranteed money and covers all three arbitration eligible seasons plus his first year of free agency.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Sources: Jon Niese, Mets reach deal — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets left-hander Jon Niese has agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal with two team options that can raise the value to $52 million, according to two sources. — The completion of the contract is pending a physical.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, Baseball Nation and Mets Merized Online
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Cain sharp in last exhibition start — OAKLAND — The Giants sealed an exhibition series victory over the cross-Bay rival A's on Tuesday with their second straight win against the green and gold, a 3-2 decision at the Oakland Coliseum. — Baseball's richest right-hander, Matt Cain …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Hardball Times
RELATED:
Joe Smith / Tampa Bay Times:
Tufano family to sue Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Bush, Brandon Guyer for $5 million apiece — PORT CHARLOTTE — The family of the victim in a hit-and-run case that resulted in DUI charges against Rays minor-league pitcher Matt Bush began the process of filing a civil suit in Charlotte County against Bush and outfielder Brandon Guyer.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
Marc Hulet / FanGraphs Baseball:
2012 Organizational Rankings: #9 - Toronto — Read the methodology behind the ratings here. Remember that the grading scale is 20-80, with 50 representing league average. — #20 - New York Mets — #19 - Los Angeles Dodgers — #18 - Colorado — #17 — Miami — #16 — Diamondbacks
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans and Batter's Box Interactive …
Bob Elliott / Toronto Sun:
SPORTS BASEBALL — Joel Carreno will replace Brett Cecil in the Jays' starting rotation to start the season. (GETTY IMAGES) — OK, raise your right arm if you had Joel Carreno as third man out of the chute in the Blue Jays starting rotation to open the 2012 season?
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Asdrubal signs two-year extension with Tribe — CLEVELAND — The Indians believe they have entered a period of contention that can be sustained at least over the next few seasons. Cleveland wanted to make sure that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera continued to provide an anchor to its offensive core.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Sign Ramon Ortiz — The Yankees signed right-hander Ramon Ortiz, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. It's a minor league deal, Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger tweets. The Giants recently released the 39-year-old Praver/Shapiro client. — Ortiz appeared in 22 games for the Cubs last year …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Tigers' Verlander Sets Expectations Ever Higher — Justin Verlander will be back on the mound at Comerica Park on Thursday, back on the perch from which he reigned in 2011. His Detroit Tigers host the Boston Red Sox in an afternoon opener with a prime-time aura.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals will option John Lannan, Ross Detwiler likely the Nationals fifth starter — The Nationals plan to option John Lannan to Class AAA Syracuse, a person with ties to the organization said, which presumably makes Ross Detwiler the Nationals' No. 5 starter entering this season.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Baseball Nation and Nats Enquirer
RELATED:
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Nationals demote left-hander John Lannan and his $5 million salary to the minor leagues
Nationals demote left-hander John Lannan and his $5 million salary to the minor leagues
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Washington Post, Federal Baseball and Yahoo! Sports