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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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.
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.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
D-Backs agree to unload Justin Upton to the Braves
D-Backs agree to unload Justin Upton to the Braves
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves agree to acquire coveted outfielder J. Upton
Braves agree to acquire coveted outfielder J. Upton
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
D-Backs want a decision on Upton or Kubel by Friday
D-Backs want a decision on Upton or Kubel by Friday
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, CBSSports.com and Talking Chop
Stephen Nohlgren / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays officials say MLB has lost faith in bay area — TAMPA — Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said Thursday that he wants to keep his team in the region, but “Major League Baseball at this point no longer believes in the Tampa Bay area.” — Five years of success on the field …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays To Sign Luke Scott — The Rays are set to re-sign Luke Scott, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). Topkin reported yesterday that there was mutual interest between the Rays and Scott, a PSI Sports Management client. — Scott made two trips to the disabled list …
Discussion:
DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish and The Heater Feed
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:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster and CBSSports.com
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Pedro Martinez joins Red Sox front office — Pedro Martinez said in December that he was interested in returning to the Red Sox in some capacity. — It became official on Thursday when he was named as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington.
Discussion:
the joy of sox
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:
Amazin' Avenue, Getting Blanked and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets, pitcher Marcum agree to one-year deal
Mets, pitcher Marcum agree to one-year deal
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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, Deadspin, ESPN, NESN.com, ProFootballTalk, CBSSports.com and SBNation.com, more at WeSmirch »
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:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, Bucs Dugout and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
White Sox Claim Zach Stewart — The White Sox claimed Zach Stewart off of waivers, MLBTR has learned. The Pirates had designated Stewart for assignment one week ago to create 40-man roster space for Jeff Karstens. — This marks the second time in two years that the White Sox have acquired Stewart.
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