Top News:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
A-Rod's lasting legacy is as an all-time cheater — Say goodbye to Alex Rodriguez and whatever good memories you have of this disgraced slugger, assuming there are any left to conjure. A-Rod has been linked (again) to performance-enhancing drugs, as recently as last season …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Exit strategy for A-Rod — The Yankees probably cannot void Alex Rodriguez's contract, and they might not even need to try. — A-Rod just might void himself. — Specifically, Rodriguez might find a doctor who says he is suffering from a career-ending injury, collect the $114 million remaining on his contract and never play again.
Discussion:
New York Post, NESN.com, HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues and MLB Rumors
Justice4U:
My favorite A-Rod story occurred in a Kansas City restaurant — Your browser does not support iframes. — I was having lunch at Houston's in Country Club Plaza when one of the people at our table said, “Hey, look, that's one of A-Rod's guys.” He pointed to a man who was engaged …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and WasWatching.com
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Working To Void Alex Rodriguez's Contract
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bluebird Banter
MLB.com:
MLB.com's Top 100 Prospect list — MLB.com's 2013 Top 100 Prospects list is being counted down live on MLB.com and MLB Network. The entire list, with video, photos, stats, scouting reports and grades will be available on MLBPipeline.com at 10 p.m. ET. Here's a look at the players who have been unveiled so far:
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, MASNsports.com, Federal Baseball, CBSSports.com, Lone Star Ball and Pirates Prospects
RELATED:
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Bundy ranked No. 2 among Top 100 Prospects — Fellow righty Gausman slotted as game's 37th-best developing talent — In discussing why the Orioles haven't made any splashy offseason moves, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has said numerous times that future success …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Camden Chat
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Schneider reportedly retires after 13 years — Catcher Brian Schneider — who caught 13 years with the Expos/Nationals organization, Mets and Phillies — has decided to retire, according to his hometown newspaper, the Allentown Morning Call, on Tuesday. — Schneider, 36, caught …
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
RELATED:
Mandy Housenick / The Phillies Files:
Phillie saying goodbye to baseball
Discussion:
The Good Phight, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Comcast SportsNet:
Marshall Faulk: 'I'll never be over being cheated out of Super Bowl' — NEW ORLEANS — The Super Bowl is back in New Orleans for the first time since February 2002, when the Patriots upset the mighty St. Louis Rams. — On Tuesday, I asked Marshall Faulk if being back in the Superdome this week conjured up any emotions from that day.
Discussion:
CBS Boston, NESN.com, ProFootballTalk, ESPN and CBSSports.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Angels hire Vizquel as infield instructor — Defensive whiz retired in 2012 with 11 Gold Gloves in 24 seasons — ANAHEIM — Legendary shortstop Omar Vizquel has his first post-playing job — with the Angels, as their new roving infield instructor. — “It's a great presence that he brings …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and HardballTalk
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
My Take on Wilmer Flores — Here is my take in the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book on New York Mets prospect Wilmer Flores. I was getting doubtful about him entering 2012 but I am very impressed with the improvement he showed with the bat. — Wilmer Flores, 3B-2B, New York Mets
Discussion:
Metsblog and MLB Prospect Watch
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pettitte passes on chance to pitch for Team USA — NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte will remain in Yankees camp this spring, passing on an opportunity to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. — The 40-year-old Pettitte informed the Yankees that he would not appear on manager Joe Torre's roster …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Baseball America:
2013 San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects … The Giants strived for more than a half-century to win their first World Series title in San Francisco. They didn't make their faithful wait nearly as long for the next parade down Market Street. — The road was far more treacherous than in 2010.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Brian MacPherson / Providence Journal:
Looking ahead at potential pitching trade targets for Red Sox — It's easy to say that what the Red Sox need this season and in future seasons is consistent excellence in their starting pitching. Both the 2004 and 2007 World Series-winning Red Sox teams had starting pitching that ranked at or near the top of the American League.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Over the Monster
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Mariners To Sign Kelly Shoppach — 6:18pm: Shoppach's deal will pay him $1.5MM in base salary with an extra $500K available in incentives, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter link). — 4:52pm: The Mariners have agreed to sign free agent catcher Kelly Shoppach, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Mariners reportedly close to deal with Shoppach
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, U.S.S. Mariner and HardballTalk
