Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / The Boston Globe:
A Hall of Fame ballot without a whiff of PED usage — Curt Schilling tipped his cap to the Fenway crowd on Oct. 25, 2007, after leaving Game 2 of the World Series. He is on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. — The poison ballot remained on my desk, unopened until Dec. 31. — I knew what was in there.
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Howard Bryant / MLB:
Drawing a blank on a HOF ballot — PEDs left no room for a comfort zone, so one voter returned a blank ballot — As it turned out, I sent my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot in blank. This wasn't science. It wasn't a clever attack in the three-front culture war among the players, the SABR s and the BBWAAs.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
My (overstuffed) Hall of Fame ballot — After much debate, a 10-man Cooperstown ticket that includes Bonds and Clemens — Somewhere out there, I'm sure there's somebody in our beautiful land who has this 2013 Hall of Fame ballot fiasco all figured out. — Somebody who knows exactly …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Phillies Nation and ESPN
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Suspicion of Steroid Use Could Keep Bagwell and Piazza Out of Hall — Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, eligible to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time, will almost certainly not be named when the next choices for Cooperstown are announced on Wednesday.
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Hall Of Justice — Even Mark McGwire knows he's a longshot …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, HardballTalk and Beyond the Box Score
Fox Sports:
Morse strongly opposes being a DH — There is a problem for any American League team that intends to acquire Nationals left fielder Mike Morse and use him often as a designated hitter. — Morse strongly opposes being a DH, according to major-league sources. — The issue, sources say, will carry weight for some AL clubs.
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NY Daily News:
Yankees reportedly working on bringing Washington Nationals' Michael Morse to the Bronx in exchange for Boone Logan — Morse became possible trade bait when Washington re-signed first baseman Adam LaRoche. The Nationals already have a core outfield of Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Denard Span.
Discussion:
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Amanda Comak / Washington Times:
Adam LaRoche, Nationals agree to 2-year deal, source says — The Washington Nationals accomplished one of their primary offseason goals Tuesday morning when first baseman Adam LaRoche agreed to terms on a two-year contract that guarantees him $24 million, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement.
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Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Adam LaRoche, Nationals agree to terms (Updated)
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Rumors
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Nationals re-sign Adam LaRoche, what does that mean for Michael Morse?
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod still on track for January hip surgery — NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to have his left hip surgically repaired on Jan. 16, and the Yankees are hopeful that he will be able to return to the big leagues around the All-Star break. — In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday …
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MLB Daily Dish
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' Tulowitzki plans to play for Team USA in WBC tournament — There was a point last summer in his painfully slow recovery process that Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki couldn't lift his leg to tie his shoe. — Surgery to remove scar tissue irritating a nerve in his left groin went …
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Darren Rovell / ESPN:
MLB dugouts to have cellphones — Phone calls between the dugout and bullpen will be made using cellphones this season as part of T-Mobile becoming the official wireless partner of Major League Baseball. — “Everyone wanted to make this deal happen,” said Tim Brosnan, MLB's executive vice president of business.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres invite 21 non-roster players to camp — SAN DIEGO — The Padres announced on Monday that they have extended Major League Spring Training invitations to 21 players. — The list of non-roster invitees includes 12 pitchers — 11 right-handers, one left-hander — four infielders, one outfielder and four catchers.
Discussion:
I R Fast
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers haven't ruled out adding Bourn, Lohse — GM Daniels is happy with current roster, but could go after pair of free agents — ARLINGTON — New Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman is a former teammate of both free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn and pitcher Kyle Lohse.
Discussion:
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Derek Jeter should be ready for 2013 Opening Day after having surgery on injured left ankle — Captain should be set to go by time season rolls around, though he has not yet run. Meanwhile, the Mets may have interest in former Yankee Carl Pavano. — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter …
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River Avenue Blues
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New York Post:
Mets, Yanks eye 1 year of Hairston
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