Top News:
NY Daily News:
Feds, MLB probe adviser, who has worked closely with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, for possible performance-enhancing drugs link — Bosch, a well-known figure among current and former Latin ballplayers in South Florida, has advised the embattled Yankee superstar on nutrition …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Big Lead, CBSSports.com, baseballmusings.com, River Avenue Blues and ESPN
RELATED:
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Yanks' GM: Possible, not likely, A-Rod out year
Yanks' GM: Possible, not likely, A-Rod out year
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, New York Post and Bombers Beat
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Red Sox agree to minor league deal with OF Ryan Sweeney — According to a major league source, the Red Sox have reached an agreement on a minor league deal with outfielder Ryan Sweeney. Sweeney, who turns 28 next month, spent 2012 with the Red Sox after being acquired from the A's …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Over the Monster, Lone Star Ball, CBSSports.com, MLB Rumors and Union-News
RELATED:
External / ESPN:
Source: Surgery for Kalish; Sox sign Sweeney
Source: Surgery for Kalish; Sox sign Sweeney
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
If ex-NY Mets, Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine wants back, Mets TV is the place to be — MLB sources say SportsNet New York brass has reached out to Valentine to discuss a possible studio role on Mets telecasts. — If Bobby Valentine wants to keep his face in baseball, New York and SNY is the place to do it.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rule Change Eliminates a Fake Pickoff — When news of its demise reached the men who will enforce it, nobody mourned. The ol' fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move, a pitcher's trick that fooled only the most gullible base runners, will now be a balk. — “It's funny,” the umpire Ted Barrett said.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Designate Lendy Castillo For Assignment — The Cubs officially announced the signing of pitcher Carlos Villanueva to a two-year deal this afternoon. In order to make room for him, Chicago has designated fellow right-hander Lendy Castillo for assignment.
Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Labor deal could thwart Mets' pursuit of Bourn — Baseball's owners succeeded in getting some cost certainty in their First-Year Player Draft budgets. They were happy about this. Meanwhile, players got the number of free agents requiring Draft pick compensation reduced. They were happy about that.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Jones to help instruct Padres this spring — SAN DIEGO — It's been over three decades since Randy Jones last slipped on a Padres uniform, which is why it will no doubt feel a little surreal when he does so again during Spring Training. — But this much the 1976 Cy Young Award winner …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Jonathan Bernstein / A plain blog about politics:
Friday Baseball Post — I said last week I had nothing particular to say about Stan Musial, but that's not quite true; I just wanted to wait a week out of respect. But now that I've done that, it's time to consider how his passing affects...the All-Time All-Alive Team and the All-Time All-Dead Team.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
MLB.com:
Rangers agree to terms with INF/OF Jeff Baker and LHP Nate Robertson — Major League veterans bring club's spring roster to 59 — The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has agreed to terms with infielder/outfielder Jeff Baker and left-handed pitcher Nate Robertson on minor league contracts …
Discussion:
Texas Rangers Blog and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 third basemen — Twins' Sano, Rangers' Olt, Nats' Rendon most promising young players at hot corner … 1. Miguel Sano, Twins: After a long signing process, documented in the film “Pelotero,” Sano signed with the Twins in 2009 for $3.15 million.
Discussion:
Metsblog
MLB.com:
White Sox agree to terms with reliever Matt Lindstrom — CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox and right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom have agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.8-million contract which includes a club option for 2014. — Under terms of the agreement, Lindstrom will receive $2.3 million in 2013 …
Discussion:
South Side Sox