Top News:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's confident they can do it again — Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Special To The Chronicle — Last year, the Angels made the big offseason splash by signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson - but the A's were the surprise winners of the AL West. — This year, the Angels again were the big-news team …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Prospect Watch: Top 10 first basemen — Astros' Singleton, Cardinals' Adams, Brewers' Morris among group of big bats … A year ago, when the Top 10 first base prospects were announced, it wasn't the deepest list in the world, with just the top three names hitting the overall Top 100 at the start of the 2012 season.
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects and Bucs Dugout
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays may still be shopping for bat, bullpen help — Even with deals to bring back DH Luke Scott and Kyle Farnsworth set to be completed this week, and spring training opening in just more than two weeks, the Rays are still on the lookout for help. Maybe another bat and another bullpen arm.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
Braves double down on streaky Uptons — There was no name that caused more debate in organizations around baseball this offseason than “Upton.” — There were impassioned debates on the Upton issue, talent vs. intangibles. There were baseball people who pleaded with their teams …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Metsblog
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
Memorabilia dealer wants the juice on former NY Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado — Sports memorabilia dealer Spencer Lader and other defendants want Jose Reyes to tell them under oath what he knows about Carlos Delgado's relationship with controversial Toronto sports medicine doctor Anthony Galea …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and WasWatching.com
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
Cubs officially announce Villanueva signing — During the Cubs Convention last weekend, Carlos Villanueva was included in a slide show about new players added to the team. On Saturday, the right-hander was finally officially added. — The Cubs announced they have formally signed Villanueva …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Designate Lendy Castillo For Assignment
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Cruz to get first shot at third, Dodgers talking to Rolen — LOS ANGELES - Dodgers manager Don Mattingly reiterated Saturday that Luis Cruz will get the first shot at being the team's everyday third baseman this spring. — But that didn't stop Mattingly from talking with Scott Rolen to feel …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Drew Davison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers sign journeyman Jeff Baker as bench candidate — Jeff Baker joined the Texas Rangers' competition for a bench spot, signing a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp Saturday. — The 31-year-old Baker has played in parts of eight big-league seasons …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball and ESPN
RELATED:
James Schmehl / MLive.com:
Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer voice displeasure over change to fake pickoff move — DETROIT — For a pitcher like Rick Porcello, a new rule change that will no longer allow pitchers to fake a pickoff to third base and throw to first isn't a big deal. — For Max Scherzer, it's huge.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Detroit Free Press, Getting Blanked and Bless You Boys
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cedeno might be in Cards' mix at shortstop — • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196 — The Cardinals' uncertain shortstop situation for this season might have another facet to it. — Reports out of Venezuela are saying that veteran infielder Ronny Cedeno is heading …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Terry Francona / Boston Globe:
Inside Terry Francona's Red Sox clubhouse — His Fenway Park quarters were a sanctuary for this baseball lifer, a second home — First of three excerpts from former Red Sox manager Terry Francona's memoir, co-authored by Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, which went on sale Jan. 22.
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Alderson could go watch Brian Wilson again, still looking for relievers — The Mets are still looking at the free agent market for bullpen help, and may go see Brian Wilson throw again soon, Sandy Alderson told Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio today.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
Mets catcher Powell's 5-month-old daughter dies — “Izzy went to be with her creator yesterday evening,” Landon Powell and his wife wrote on Facebook. (Kevork Djansezian/AP) — One of Mets catcher Landon Powell's 5-month-old twin daughters died on Friday night, the family announced on Saturday through its Facebook page.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation