Top News:
Keith Law / ESPN:
Top 100 prospects of 2013 — With Harper and Trout gone, we have some new names at the top — Welcome to the 2013 ESPN Insider ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. — This is the sixth year I have done these rankings for ESPN, with Mike Trout topping the list the previous two years.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Gaslamp Ball, Bluebird Banter, Pirates Prospects, River Avenue Blues, Philly.com, HardballTalk, Twinkie Town, Lone Star Ball and ESPN
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Keith Law / ESPN:
Ranking the farm systems — St. Louis, with five top-100 players, boasts the top system in baseball — To kick off my look at the best prospects in the minor leagues this week, I've ranked all 30 MLB farm systems from top to bottom, considering only the players who are currently …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Athletics Acquire Jed Lowrie In Five-Player Deal — The Astros announced that they sent shortstop Jed Lowrie to the Athletics in a five-player trade. The Astros acquire first baseman Chris Carter, starting pitcher Brad Peacock and catching prospect Max Stassi from the A's in the deal …
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Wright makes Mets' best pitch to free-agent CF Bourn — PORT ST. LUCIE — David Wright is all-in on the Mets. That includes being a front-line recruiter for Sandy Alderson & Co. — Wright told The Post yesterday he has spoken with and exchanged texts with free-agent center fielder Michael Bourn …
Discussion:
Metsblog, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Amazin' Avenue
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Jorge Castillo / New Jersey Online:
Sandy Alderson says Mets engaged in ‘ongoing discussion’ with Michael Bourn
Discussion:
NESN.com and HardballTalk
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Mets are done with the bullpen, still negotiating with Michael Bourn
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish and New York Mets Fan Blog
Rich Calder / New York Post:
Mets eye casino at Citi to help offset losses suffered in Bernie Madoff scandal — It's an Amazin' gamble! — The Mets' owners want to roll the dice on building a Las Vegas-style casino next to Citi Field to recoup some of the $162 million for which team brass are still on the hook following …
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk, SI Tracking Blog, Kranepool Society and New Jersey Online
NY Daily News:
Yankees' Alex Rodriguez thinks his team and Major League Baseball are out to get him after recent PED scandal: sources — A-Rod's concerns intensified as agents from MLB's Department of Investigations met in Miami Monday with editors of Miami New Times. The source added that Rodriguez …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and WasWatching.com
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Turning Up The Heat — Alex Rodriguez was implicated in a report last week alleging he was given performance-enhancing drugs from 2009-12. — The notebooks reported to belong to Florida wellness clinician Tony Bosch connect New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez to a staggering array …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog and MLB Daily Dish
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Ex-Cy Young winner Webb retires at age 33 — Brandon Webb, the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner and one of the most dominant starters in the game during a five-year stretch with the Arizona Diamondbacks, is officially retiring from baseball, according to his agents at Millennium Sports.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Beyond the Box Score, SI Tracking Blog, Bleacher Report and ESPN
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brandon Webb To Retire
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Daily Dish
Marie Torto / Boston Globe:
Truck Day signals unofficial start of Red Sox spring training — Truck Day, the unofficial start of spring training, is here for the Red Sox and their fans. — A large moving truck with the slogan “Big Things Ahead” is parked next to Fenway Park and workers are busy loading it with the gear …
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Greetings from Gate C-11
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, NESN.com and Over the Monster
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Lugo will likely retire following Caribbean Series — HERMOSILLO, Mexico — Julio Lugo's professional baseball career is down to a matter of days. — The 37-year-old middle infielder — who played 12 Major League seasons, was the Red Sox's starting shortstop when they won the World Series …
Discussion:
Full Count, NESN.com and MLB Daily Dish
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Hanley enjoying time playing for Dominican Republic
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins monitoring LoMo's health as camp nears — No return timetable for converted outfielder; club otherwise in good condition — MIAMI — Aside from Logan Morrison, the Marlins should be relatively healthy when Spring Training gets under way. — In terms of injuries …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees weighing options in center field — NEW YORK — The Yankees are waiting until they arrive in camp to decide if Brett Gardner or Curtis Granderson will be their best option in center field. — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team needs to talk about the idea …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
