Top News:
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Tigers' Peralta linked to Bosch, PEDs — Jhonny Peralta is the 12th player connected to Biogenesis, the Florida wellness clinic at the heart of the scandal. — Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta is named in the records of Tony Bosch, the director of the Biogenesis wellness clinic in Coral Gables …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish, Bless You Boys, HardballTalk and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
Braun's name in Miami PED clinic papers — Major League Baseball's investigation into the widening Biogenesis scandal became more complicated Tuesday when four more players, including Brewers superstar Ryan Braun, were linked to the now-defunct Florida clinic alleged to have distributed performance-enhancing substances.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
As Braun's name surfaces in PED scandal, another sad day for sports
Discussion:
Riptide 2.0, ESPN.com, JSOnline, Baltimore Sun and HardballTalk
NY Daily News:
Former Yankees prospect Jesus Montero, now with the Seattle Mariners, linked to Anthony Bosch …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Ryan Braun: ‘Nothing to hide’ in dealings with clinic
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards issue No. 32 for first time since Hancock wore it — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — JUPITER, Fla. • For the first time since pitcher Josh Hancock died in an automobile accident early in the 2007 season, the Cardinals will issue his No. 32 to an active player at spring training.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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:
Metsblog
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Bourn hunt following a familiar game of chicken with Boras
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Rumors and Metsblog
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Ike Davis: Mets would love Michael Bourn
Discussion:
MLB.com, ESPN, Metsblog and Amazin' Avenue
Barry Jackson / Sports Buzz:
2 p.m. update: Mixed UM recruiting news; Big name rebuffed trying to buy Marlins; Heat, Fins — The Wednesday buzz is below, with some surprising Marlins news and more. First, a quick Wednesday morning UM recruiting update: Staten Island-based running back Augustus Edwards picked UM over FSU …
Discussion:
Riptide 2.0, HardballTalk, SI Tracking Blog and CBSSports.com
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Scott gets $2.75-million, De La Rosa gets designated — UPDATE, 7:30: Scott said he was excited to be back and get another chance to “see the fruits of my labor.” — He had good reports his right shoulder, which was an issue last year as he was coming off surgery, saying it is much improved and stronger …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com:
Leyland is exactly where he belongs with Tigers — Veteran skipper has shown he knows when it is time to move on — With the highly-favored Tigers battling until the final days of last season with the White Sox before claiming the American League Central title there was talk …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Gonzalez passes physical, returns to Brewers — MILWAUKEE — Shortstop Alex Gonzalez passed a physical exam on Wednesday and signed his one-year deal to return to the Brewers, who tentatively plan to use him as an experienced backup to young shortstop Jean Segura.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
After bruising years, Lackey ready to take mound — FORT MYERS, Fla. — To fans, John Lackey is the most unpopular player on the Red Sox. There is no second place; that's how much of a landslide it is. — Lackey is an expensive free agent who didn't meet expectations, a quick path to getting booed at Fenway Park.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Hardball Times, Over the Monster, ESPN, Boston Globe, The Soxaholix and the joy of sox
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Confident Mets manager Collins not worried about lame-duck status — PORT ST. LUCIE — Managing the Mets is hard enough. Managing them as a lame duck is nearly impossible. That is what is staring Terry Collins in the face. — Collins is staring right back.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors and Metsblog
Keith Law / ESPN:
Top 10 prospects (AL West) — The top prospects and sleepers for each AL West team — This year, I've changed the format of my ranking of the top 10 prospects in each organization. The criteria for organizing these lists are the same, but I've included a little more explanation of the state …
Blair Shiff / KUSA-TV:
Todd Helton arrested for suspicion of DUI — 9NEWS sources say he was taken into custody in Colorado, however, they have not released the location or the time of the arrest. — The following statement from the Colorado Rockies:
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Purple Row
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.
RELATED:
Mark Sheldon / Mark My Word:
Leake settles with Reds
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Levangie tabbed as Sox's new bullpen coach — BOSTON — The Red Sox's new bullpen coach is somebody who has already spent loads of time in the Fenway 'pen. — Dana Levangie, 43, was Boston's bullpen catcher for eight years, the last of which culminated in the 2004 World Series title.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
