Top News:
Fox Sports:
Carl Pavano suffers ruptured spleen — Free-agent right-hander Carl Pavano doesn't figure to be signing with a new team anytime soon. — Pavano, 37, recently suffered a ruptured spleen that will sideline him for 6 to 8 weeks, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
USA Today, Amazin' Avenue, NoMaas.org, It's About The Money, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, Deadspin and CBSSports.com
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D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Report: Carl Pavano suffered ruptured spleen after falling while shoveling snow — Well, this might be the most Carl Pavano injury ever. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the veteran right-hander recently suffered a ruptured spleen when he slipped and fell while shoveling snow in his driveway in Vermont.
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Jonny Gomes: I'm no one-trick pony … Throughout his 10-year career, Jonny Gomes has had success against left-handed pitchers, batting .284 with an .894 on-base plus slugging percentage, while struggling against righties (.223, .782). — Nevertheless, he's preparing to be more than just a platoon left fielder for the Red Sox.
Discussion:
NESN.com, Over the Monster and HardballTalk
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Pedro joins Red Sox as special assistant
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Pedro Martinez joins Red Sox front office
Pedro Martinez joins Red Sox front office
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Full Count, Over the Monster and the joy of sox
Fox Sports:
Mets-Bourn match looks unlikely — First off, I'll believe the Mets are signing Michael Bourn when I see them introduce him at a news conference and present him with a ceremonial cap and jersey. So, the debate over the type of draft pick they should forfeit for him probably is a pointless exercise.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Good Phight, MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked, Lone Star Ball, Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog and CBSSports.com
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T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Thursday morning...Bourn, Lohse not happening
Thursday morning...Bourn, Lohse not happening
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, Texas Rangers Blog and CBSSports.com
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: A third-place finish in offseason moves — BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Phillies have not won the offseason. — They have, in fact, finished third in the National League East, the same position they were stuck in when time expired on the 2012 season.
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
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Fox Sports:
Upton not D-backs' kind of player
Upton not D-backs' kind of player
Discussion:
CBSSports.com Sports News …, Getting Blanked, Talking Chop, Baseball Nation, Deadspin, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
D-Backs agree to unload Justin Upton to the Braves
ESPN.com:
Source: Braves acquire J. Upton from D-backs
Source: Braves acquire J. Upton from D-backs
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, ESPN, MLB and ESPN
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
DePodesta talks about Matt Harvey and the Year-After-Effect — Mets RHP Matt Harvey is among 11 pitchers at risk of injury this season based on the Year-After-Effect, according to Tom Verducci's report for SI.com. — To read more about Verducci's list, and why Harvey is on it, check out this post on MetsBlog from Wednesday.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Fire Brand
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards' minor-league system ranks No. 1 — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — As the Cardinals reorganized the direction — and leadership — of their amateur scouting and minor-league system several years ago, executives pointed at times to rankings …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Jurrjens agrees to deal with Orioles — Free agent righthander Jair Jurrjens, an All-Star in 2011 who was not tendered by the Braves after a rough 2012 season, has agreed to a deal with the Orioles, CBSSports.com has learned. — Jurrjens will receive a $1.5 million base on a Major League deal …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Camden Chat, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and CBSSports.com
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Jan. 15-20 — Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 15-20 — Atlanta Braves — Signed: LHP Eric Pfisterer (NDFA—Duke), SS Mattia Mercuri — International baseball sites indicate that Mattia Mercuri …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
MLB statement: Status quo not sustainable — MLB issued this statement this afternoon: — “The Commissioner has had conversations with Stuart Sternberg and is disappointed with the current situation in the Tampa Bay market. — The status quo is simply not sustainable.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
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Stephen Nohlgren / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays officials say MLB has lost faith in bay area
Tampa Bay Rays officials say MLB has lost faith in bay area
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Baseball America:
2013 Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects … What a difference a year makes. The Dodgers have gone from the thriftiness and legal battles of the Frank McCourt era to buying the biggest houses in Beverly Hills, with no signs of slowing down. — After two years of watching McCourt's …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Miami Marlins: Ex-Dolphins QB Pat White has minor league offer in hand — If former Miami Dolphins quarterback Pat White wants to give baseball another shot, the Miami Marlins are prepared to take a look. — White on Thursday told 640 Sports' Orlando Alzugaray he has an offer in hand from the Marlins' organization.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and ProFootballTalk
Zack Meisel / MLB.com:
Morgan reportedly agrees on deal to play in Japan — Outfielder Nyjer Morgan will reportedly play in the Far East this season. Whether his alter ego, Tony Plush, will join him remains to be seen. — According to The Associated Press, the former Brewers outfielder has agreed …
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
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