Top News:
Peter Schworm / Boston Globe:
Sox fans hope for a team they can love — Walking by Fenway Park on a sublime spring day, Susie Adams could feel the anticipation in the air, the promise of a new season. Opening Day, baseball's blessed return, was nearly here. — But like many Red Sox fans who still wince at the memory …
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Surviving Grady
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Notes: Bard, Lester, Padilla — The last time the Red Sox played a regular season game, they lost to the Orioles and the 2011 season ended in heart-breaking fashion. They'll look to start the 2012 season off with a win when they take on the defending AL Central champions in Detroit this afternoon.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Detroit Free Press
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Choice words — Valentine settles on Aceves as closer in Bailey's absence — Alfredo Aceves is excited about the chance to be the Red Sox' closer. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) — DETROIT - There will be no closer controversy for the Red Sox. Before Andrew Bailey was out of surgery on Wednesday …
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Valentine names Aceves the closer
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Baseball Nation and the joy of sox
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks add catcher Stewart, option Cervelli — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees completed a deal on Wednesday to address their organizational catching depth, acquiring veteran Chris Stewart from the Giants in exchange for right-hander George Kontos. — Because Stewart is out of Minor League options …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Pinstripe Alley, Bleeding Yankee Blue and Replacement Level …
RELATED:
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:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Prospectus, McCovey Chronicles and Baseball America
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Garcia fans four as Yanks wrap up spring
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Pinstripe Alley
Steven Wine / Globe and Mail:
Lohse, Cardinals spoil Marlins' debut in new ballpark — The sellout crowd in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark cheered the introduction of their starters, who were accompanied by women dressed as Latin showgirls. There was another roar for Muhammad Ali, who delivered the first pitch.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Fish Stripes, MLB Daily Dish and Associated Press
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Monster deal gives Albert Pujols ‘extra chip on my shoulder’
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Mike Kerwick / NorthJersey.com:
Mets hoping new Citi Field dimensions help team's hitters, appease fans — It is one line of type, six telling words. Ordinary and eloquent, it offers a portrait of an at-bat in minimalist detail. — J. Bay flied out to left. — Burrow inside those six words and you will learn so much more …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, MetsBlog.com and New Jersey Online
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:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish, New Jersey Online, Baseball Nation, Bats, MLB Rumors and Mets Merized Online
RELATED:
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Mets sign Jon Niese to five-year, $25.5 million contract
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Donaldson's 2 HRs Power A's Past Giants 8-1 — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Josh Donaldson started to show signs in the final exhibition that he might be a reliable replacement to Scott Sizemore, after all. — Donaldson hit two homers and drove in five runs off Yusmeiro Petit …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Police pull their guns on Torii Hunter ... while he's in his own home — Torii Hunter's Twitter feed got interesting in the past hour: … It was reported here. I assume if Hunter was less than accurate in his tweets, there would be something contradicting it in the story.
Discussion:
CORONA DEL MAR TODAY, Deadspin and 6-4-2
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:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bronx Baseball Daily, HardballTalk, Bleeding Yankee Blue and SI Tracking Blog
Associated Press:
Grady Sizemore placed on 60-day DL — CLEVELAND — The Indians have placed oft-injured center fielder Grady Sizemore on the 60-day disabled list and finalized their roster for opening day. — Sizemore, who underwent back surgery last month, will not be eligible to come off the DL until June 3.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
