Top News:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves make offer for Arizona's Upton — Eight weeks after signing B.J. Upton to the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history, the Braves are trying to land his brother, Arizona's Justin Upton, in a trade that could give them one of baseball's most dynamic outfields with a pair of Uptons and Jason Heyward.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, MLB Daily Dish and Talking Chop
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves agree to acquire coveted outfielder J. Upton — Source says Prado, Delgado, three prospects to D-backs; Johnson to Atlanta — ATLANTA — The Braves have reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Justin Upton from the D-backs in exchange for five players, including Martin Prado.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
ESPN.com:
Source: Braves acquire J. Upton from D-backs — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a trade to acquire outfielder Justin Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Randall Delgado, infielder Martin Prado and minor leaguers Nick Ahmed, Brandon Drury and Zeke Spruill, sources tell ESPN.
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
The Bourn Market: Mets, Braves, Rangers, M's and four more — Star free agent Michael Bourn remains the best player without a team. But suitors are starting to show up now for the center fielder who by some advanced-stat estimates has saved 80 runs or more with his defense over the past four years.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Getting Blanked, New York Post, HardballTalk, Metsblog, Talking Chop and MLB Daily Dish
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
The Braves are said to have increased their pursuit of Justin …
Discussion:
Baseball America, CBSSports.com, Beyond the Box Score, Bucs Dugout, McCovey Chronicles, Talking Chop and Federal Baseball
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
D-Backs want a decision on Upton or Kubel by Friday
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, CBSSports.com and Talking Chop
Fox Sports:
Sources: O's eye Kubel, Porcello
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, MLB Daily Dish, AZ Snake Pit, Talking Chop and Baseball Nation
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Pursuing Jason Kubel
Discussion:
Metsblog and MLB Daily Dish
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Mets agree to sign RHP Shaun Marcum — The Mets and free-agent RHP Shaun Marcum have agreed to a one-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. — Marcum, 31, went 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts for the Brewers in 2012, during which he missed two months of the season with an elbow injury.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets, pitcher Marcum agree to one-year deal — The New York Mets, who had been the lone team not to sign a free agent to a major league contract this winter, have agreed to terms with right-hander Shaun Marcum. — Marcum, 31, will get a one-year deal contingent on passing a physical, a major league source confirmed.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Associated Press:
Ex-Brewers OF Morgan to play for Japan team — YOKOHAMA, Japan — Free-agent outfielder Nyjer Morgan has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan's Central League. — The team says the 32-year-old Morgan will join the BayStars on a one-year-deal worth $1.6 million.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
NY Daily News:
Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax perpetrator Ronaiah Tuiasosopo impersonated ‘Lennay Kekua’ female voice over phone to speak to Notre Dame player — The soul-baring chats between the star linebacker and the man posing as his phantom girlfriend were the linchpin of their fake fairy-tale romance.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, ESPN, Deadspin, CBSSports.com, SBNation.com and ProFootballTalk, more at WeSmirch »
RELATED:
ESPN:
Te'o phone logs show hours of calls to ‘Kekua’
Discussion:
The Big Lead, ProFootballTalk, Deadspin and NESN.com
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 shortstops — Rangers' Profar, Tribe's Lindor head list of offensively and defensively gifted players … 1. Jurickson Profar, Rangers: When you homer in your first big league at-bat, you might think there's no place to go but down.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Martinez Returns to Red Sox as Assistant to GM — BOSTON (AP) — Pedro Martinez has returned to the Boston Red Sox. — On Thursday, Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, who spent seven seasons in Boston, was brought back to the franchise.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and CBSSports.com
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Farnsworth set to return — The Rays completed a deal to bring back reliever Kyle Farnsworth. — The veteran right-hander, who spent the last two seasons in their bullpen, has been considering a return for weeks and finally made a decision. According to ESPN and Fox Sports …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cubs, Hairston agree to deal — The Chicago Cubs, adding another veteran to their outfield, have reached agreement with free agent Scott Hairston on a two-year contract, according to major league sources. — Hairston, 32, figures to platoon with another free-agent signee, Nate Schierholtz, in right field.
Discussion:
Metsblog and CBSSports.com
