Top News:
Fox Sports:
Upton not D-backs' kind of player — Well, the Arizona Diamondbacks are getting what they wanted, a team full of gritty dirtballs. — They've traded center fielder Chris Young, right-hander Trevor Bauer and right fielder Justin Upton, all for questionable returns.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
RELATED:
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.
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, MLB Daily Dish, Getting Blanked and Talking Chop
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 … PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks talked about a divorce three years ago with All-Star outfielder Justin Upton, and finally, after numerous ups and downs, name-calling and finger-pointing, they called it quits.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and 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
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Rays set to re-sign DH Luke Scott — The Rays are set to re-sign DH Luke Scott, the Times has learned. — Scott spent last season with the Rays, and though they declined his $6-million option, both sides have maintained contact and mutual interest in a return. The Rays already paid Scott a $1-million buyout.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays To Sign Luke Scott
Rays To Sign Luke Scott
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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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:
Getting Blanked, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
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, ESPN, Deadspin, 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
John & Cait:
Brewers Go For the Gold and Announce Gold Alternate Jersey — The Brewers go for the gold every season. Each of the 30 flags atop the Commissioner's Trophy awarded to the World Series Champion are adorned in gold and it is the Brewers goal to one day have that trophy at Miller Park.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Al's Ramblings
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.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
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:
Bats, Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog and CBSSports.com