Top News:
NY Daily News:
Former Yankees prospect Jesus Montero, now with the Seattle Mariners, linked to Anthony Bosch and performance-enhancing drugs — Montero, yet another client of the Levinson brothers, Seth and Sam, who are under investigation by Major League Baseball, pops up in relation to South Florida clinic.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, Over the Monster and WasWatching.com
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NY Daily News:
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun admits he's on client list of ‘biochemist’ Anthony Bosch, but says he appears in records because his attorneys used Bosch as a consultant — The 2011 National League Most Valuable Player, who beat a drug suspension for synthetic testosterone …
Discussion:
Lady Loves Pinstripes, Brew Crew Ball, CBSSports.com and WasWatching.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Braun: ‘Nothing to hide’ in link to Miami clinic — MILWAUKEE — Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun said he had “nothing to hide” Tuesday after being drawn into the controversy surrounding the defunct South Florida clinic that allegedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs to several Major League players.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Brew Beat and Brew Crew Ball
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Ryan Braun's name discovered in the Biogenesis records — From Jeff Passan and Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports: … Braun was cleared of that 2011 positive test due to what was perceived to be an error in the handling of his urine sample. His name is not listed next to any specific PED transactions …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, JSOnline, Mets Merized Online, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Daily Dish
Fox Sports:
Familiar name emerges in drug probe — One year later, we have the sequel: Major League Baseball vs. Ryan Braun, Part II. — Days before the start of spring training, MLB drug sleuths have a fresh opportunity to pursue allegations of performance-enhancing drug use against Braun.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter out for 2013; future uncertain — The Cardinals do not expect Chris Carpenter to pitch for the team in 2013 because of medical issues related to last year's shoulder trouble, and general manager John Mozeliak said he doubts that Carpenter will pitch for the team again.
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Chris Carpenter Likely To Miss 2013 Season — Cardinals GM John Mozeliak announced that Chris Carpenter can't continue to throw and will likely miss the 2013 season (Twitter links via Danny Knobler of CBS Sports and B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest). The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com and JSOnline
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Bourn hunt following a familiar game of chicken with Boras — The Mets and Scott Boras are engaged in a game of chicken. The powerful agent is saying he has attractive offers elsewhere for Michael Bourn. The Mets are essentially challenging him to prove those offers exist …
Discussion:
Fox Sports, MLB Rumors, Metsblog, HardballTalk and Amazin' Avenue
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Ike Davis: Mets would love Michael Bourn — Ike Davis and Sandy Alderson attended Tuesday night's Thurman Munson dinner. — Chances are strong the Mets general manager didn't solicit his first baseman's opinion on whether the Mets should sign free-agent centerfielder Michael Bourn. But if he had . . .
Discussion:
MLB.com, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Wright makes Mets' best pitch to free-agent CF Bourn
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Leake, Reds avoid arbitration with one-year deal — CINCINNATI — The Reds and starting pitcher Mike Leake avoided arbitration early Wednesday morning when the right-hander agreed to a one-year, $3.06 million contract, sources told MLB.com. — The Reds have not made any announcements on the deal.
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Mark Sheldon / Mark My Word:
Leake settles with Reds — Four down, three to go for Reds arbitration cases. — Early Wednesday morning, sources told MLB.com that RHP Mike Leake and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $3.06 million contract that avoids arbitration. — During the exchange of numbers last month …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
David Murphy / Philly.com:
New look at Phillies camp: Position battles — This is Part 2 of a weeklong series by David Murphy looking at the Phillies as they head into spring training. Today: The lineup. — THIS TIME last year, the Phillies sounded an optimistic note about the cast of regulars they would carry into the start of spring training.
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com:
Led by Bundy, O's prospects ready for chance — Gausman, Rodriguez, Schoop looking to follow in right-hander's path … The 2012 season was an active one for the Orioles and their farm system. — Three of the club's top prospects — Manny Machado, Dylan Bundy and Xavier Avery …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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.
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Associated Press:
MLB asks Miami New Times for records in PED case — Nelson Cruz was one of several players named in the report alleged to have been provided PEDs. — MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball officials have asked the Miami New Times for records the alternative newspaper obtained for a story …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Luhnow confident in process despite critics — HOUSTON — Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has heard the critics who have chastised the club for dealing away most of its established Major League players in the last year, while slashing payroll and stockpiling talent for what suddenly has become a very good Minor League system.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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