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.
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CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, Over the Monster, The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB Daily Dish and WasWatching.com
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Ryan Braun: ‘Nothing to hide’ in dealings with clinic — Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun acknowledged a relationship with a South Florida clinic tied to performance-enhancing drugs, but said he consulted with Anthony Bosch only as it concerned the appeal of a positive drug test.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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 the joy of sox
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:
Brew Beat, Halos Heaven, Baseball Nation and Brew Crew Ball
Drew Silva / HardballTalk:
Ryan Braun's name discovered in the Biogenesis records
Ryan Braun's name discovered in the Biogenesis records
Discussion:
JSOnline, baseballmusings.com, MLB Daily Dish and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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
Chris Carpenter Likely To Miss 2013 Season
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Viva El Birdos, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
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:
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, ESPN and Amazin' Avenue
Fox Sports:
When will Bourn find a new team? — No free-agent position player of Michael Bourn's caliber has ever taken this long to find a new team. Not when fully healthy. Not in a true open market. — In 2005, outfielder Magglio Ordonez needed until Feb. 7 to sign with the Detroit Tigers …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and New York Post
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:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors 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.
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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
Tom Van Riper / Forbes:
America's Most Disliked Athletes — Lance Armstrong had two decades of professional racing and seven Tour de France championships to his credit before he became America's most disliked athlete. That happened, of course, when he acknowledged that he cheated through much of the ride.
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NESN.com, FanSided, ProBasketballTalk, SI Tracking Blog and CBSSports.com
Keith Law / ESPN:
Ranking the top prospects (76-100) — A mix of 2012 fallers and players ready for blast off in 2013 — Welcome to ESPN Insider's 2013 ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. — This is my sixth such ranking for Insider, and there has been quite a bit of turnover from last year's list.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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