Top News:
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 …
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MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, CBSSports.com, MLB Rumors and Union-News
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External / ESPN:
Source: Surgery for Kalish; Sox sign Sweeney — Boston Red sox outfielder Ryan Kalish's determination to return to the big leagues has sustained another major setback. — Kalish, who made an auspicious big league debut in 2010 but missed all of the 2011 season and most of 2012 with neck …
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Jonny Gomes: I'm no one-trick pony
Jonny Gomes: I'm no one-trick pony
Discussion:
Rays Index, Over the Monster and HardballTalk
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:
Metsblog and HardballTalk
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Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Truth About Rod Barajas — At one point last season, the Pirates were 63-47, right in the thick of the National League playoff race. They were in excellent position to finish at .500 or above for the first time since 1992; they just needed to win 18 of their remaining 52 games.
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:
baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, The Big Lead, River Avenue Blues and ESPN
Bkallet / CBS New York:
Yankees GM: There's A ‘Chance’ A-Rod Could Miss 2013 Season — NEW YORK (WFAN) - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had surgery on his left hip on January 16, and he is expected to be out until after the All-Star break. — But there's a chance that you might not see the 14 …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, ESPN, River Avenue Blues, Pinstriped Bible and Sliding Into Home
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Yanks' GM: Possible, not likely, A-Rod out year — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said there is “a chance” that Alex Rodriguez's hip surgery could keep him out for the entire season. — “It is possible,” Cashman said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's Michael Kay Show.
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:
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
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
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MLB Investigating Age Questions On Aledmys Diaz — Major League Baseball is investigating the age of Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, according to multiple sources. — Diaz is presenting himself as a 23-year-old born Jan. 8, 1990. However, that date conflicts with previous accounts of when he was born, according to multiple sources.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors