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12:50 PM ET, January 12, 2013

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 Top News: 
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets resume trade talks for Diamondbacks' Justin Upton  —  The Mets have revived discussions of a trade for the Diamondbacks' Justin Upton, two people with knowledge of the situation said Friday.  However, doubts linger about whether the Mets are willing to deal enough prospects to meet …
Discussion: New York Post and Metsblog
RELATED:
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 …
Scott Miller / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Justin Upton rejects Mariners deal, still could be short-timer in Arizona  —  The Mariners' quest to improve their offense took a hit when Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton rejected a proposed deal recently that would have sent him to Seattle for a multi-player package.
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Rubby De La Rosa of Boston Red Sox learned his changeup from Pedro Martinez  —  Rubby De La Rosa went 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 60 2/3 innings for the Dodgers in 2011.  —  Is it possible that Pedro Martinez is the gift that keeps on giving to the Boston Red Sox?
Discussion: Boston Globe and MLB Daily Dish
Canadian Press:
Toronto Blue Jays sign catcher Henry Blanco  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have signed veteran catcher Henry Blanco to a one-year contract.  —  The club announced Friday that the deal is non-guaranteed and worth $750,000.  —  The 41-year-old played in 21 games for Arizona last season …
Discussion: Bluebird Banter and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Oliver not expected back; trade to Texas unlikely
Carson Cistulli / FanGraphs Baseball:
2013 ZiPS Projections - Milwaukee Brewers  —  Dan Szymborski's ZiPS projections, which have typically appeared in the pages of Baseball Think Factory, are being released at FanGraphs this year.  Below are the projections for the Milwaukee Brewers.  Szymborski can be found on Twitter at @DSzymborski.
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Crew signs Escobar, avoids arbitration with Narveson
Discussion: Brew Beat and Baseball Nation
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Scott Boras clients still seeking jobs  —  Michael Bourn, Kyle Lohse and Rafael Soriano are the last of the big free agents  —  Stop us if you've heard this one before: Spring training is fast approaching.  Scott Boras has several big-name clients who are still unemployed …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Yankees not done with offseason moves, ‘need another bat,’ says owner Hal Steinbrenner  —  'We've got some work to do,' said Steinbrenner.  The Yankees owner also allowed for slight wiggle room in the $189 million payroll target for 2013, as long it helps to ‘put together a championship-caliber team.’
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Notes: Kyle Lohse, Nick Punto  —  The Cardinals might not be making many headlines in relation to some of their more active National League rivals, but they could make another move or two and they do have five unresolved arbitration cases.  Mitchell Boggs, David Freese, Jason Motte …
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mike Piazza's co-author says catcher provides answers, believes “he's clean”  —  The man who co-authored Mike Piazza's autobiography said Thursday that the former Mets catcher addresses longtime rumors of steroid use in the soon-to-be-released book.  —  Veteran scribe Lonnie Wheeler …
Discussion: HardballTalk
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Todd Helton says he will return to Rockies for likely final season  —  There was no epiphany.  Todd Helton just followed his body's lead and listened to his head.  Three months of workouts and recent batting practice told him that his surgically-repaired left hip was healed …
Philly.com:
Phillies not expecting major losses to WBC  —  Phillies pitchers and catchers must report to Clearwater, Fla., by Feb. 12.  If it feels a bit early, that's because it is, thanks to the third iteration of the World Baseball Classic this spring.  —  Three years ago, the Phillies lost three …
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Baseball announces random blood testing for HGH  —  Interesting timing in the wake of yesterday's Hall of Fame results.  Here's the announcement from the league and the players association...  Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced today …
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Baseball to Expand Drug-Testing Program
 
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 More News: 
Mike Axisa / FanGraphs Baseball:
Shaun Marcum's Winter of Silence
MLB.com:
White Sox invite 20 players to Spring Training
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
MLB.com:
Hall talks Upton, Spring Training, FanFest in webchat
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
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MLB 25 Under 25 Rankings
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Hamels OK after offseason shoulder issue
 

 
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