Top News:
Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Time to consider changing Hall of Fame voting system — Are the most qualified people voting? After 80 years of doing things one way, is it time to consider another? Those are among the questions the National Baseball Hall of Fame ought to be asking itself.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Beyond the Box Score, ESPN and Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Hall of Famers glad Bonds, Clemens denied … NEW YORK — Nobody was happier about the Hall of Fame shutout than the Hall of Famers themselves. — Goose Gossage, Al Kaline, Dennis Eckersley and others are in no rush to open the door to Cooperstown for anyone linked to steroids.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, ESPN.com and ESPN
Fox Sports:
2013 Hall of Fame vote an aberration
2013 Hall of Fame vote an aberration
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, ESPN.com - null, Getting Blanked, Sports on Earth Writers and Full Count
ESPN:
No players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame by writers
No players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame by writers
Discussion:
Associated Press, Hardball Times and ESPN.com
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Biggio tops vote but no one elected to Hall
Biggio tops vote but no one elected to Hall
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Baseball Prospectus, Beyond the Box Score, Associated Press, Hit and Run, Gaslamp Ball and Metsblog
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Stark: What should the Hall of Fame be?
Stark: What should the Hall of Fame be?
Discussion:
Hit and Run, Boston Globe, San Francisco Giants, Over the Monster, Baseball Analytics Blog, ESPN and Fire Brand
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
No Players Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
No Players Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Ken Burns on Bonds, Clemens, Piazza: “Those motherf***ers should suffer for a while”
Ken Burns on Bonds, Clemens, Piazza: “Those motherf***ers should suffer for a while”
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and Hollywood Reporter
Fox Sports:
Sources: Upton rejected trade to M's — Justin Upton is still a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but not for a lack of effort by the D-Backs in trying to move him. — The Diamondbacks were in agreement on a trade that would have sent Upton to the Seattle Mariners …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Hall talks Upton, Spring Training, FanFest in webchat — During his January webchat with fans, D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall addressed Justin Upton trade rumors and said the surplus of outfielders not only creates healthy competition, but gives the club options and opportunities.
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Jonathan Singleton banned 50 games — Houston Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton, a rising star in the organization and the team's first baseman of the future, has been suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season for his second violaton of minor league baseball's drug policy.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Crawfish Boxes and The Good Phight
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Top Astros prospect suspended 50 games
Top Astros prospect suspended 50 games
Discussion:
Philly.com, Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Baseball to Expand Drug-Testing Program — WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball and its players union have reached a deal to expand their drug program, agreeing to in-season blood-testing for human growth hormone and to a new test designed to catch players using testosterone.
Discussion:
MLB, SI Tracking Blog, HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Keith Law / ESPN:
MLB 25 Under 25 Rankings — Ranking the top players in baseball below the age of 25 — Welcome to the second edition of my rankings of the top MLB players under the age of 25. This year's list runs to 25 players, with my comments on each player broken down into two sections …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Getting Blanked and MLB
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Oliver not expected back; trade to Texas unlikely — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have spoken to the Blue Jays about left-handed reliever Darren Oliver, but industry sources said a trade is unlikely to happen. — Oliver may end up retiring rather than returning to Toronto.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Crew signs Escobar, avoids arbitration with Narveson — Limited since 2007, righty inks Minors deal; southpaw agrees to one-year pact — Kelvim Escobar has made one Majors appearance since 2007; Chris Narveson was in his first year of arbitration-eligibility. (AP)
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
csnphilly.com:
Hamels OK after offseason shoulder issue — Ruben Amaro Jr. insists that it's nothing to be concerned about, but any time someone hears that Cole Hamels experienced shoulder soreness, well, there's going to be concern. — That's just the way it is with pitching arms. Especially ones critical to a team's success.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
MLB.com:
White Sox invite 20 players to Spring Training — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with right-handed pitchers Jeff Gray and Ramon Troncoso, left-hander David Purcey, catcher Bryan Anderson, infielders Josh Bell and Steve Tolleson and outfielder Stefan Gartrell.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish