Top News:
ESPN:
Curt Schilling, MLB — ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling says he will be surprised if Alex Rodriguez plays again. Schilling also shares his thoughts on Ryan Braun and more.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Red Sox Monster, Let's Go Tribe, Over the Monster and CBSSports.com
RELATED:
Jerry Spar / Full Count:
Curt Schilling: ‘Members of the [Red Sox] organization’ encouraged me to use PEDs — Curt Schilling, in a Wednesday interview on ESPN Radio, said toward the end of his tenure with the Red Sox he was encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs by “members of the organization.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bleacher Report and ESPN
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:
NESN.com, Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Prospectus, Bless You Boys and HardballTalk
Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
Braun's name in Miami PED clinic papers
Braun's name in Miami PED clinic papers
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and AZ Snake Pit
Chuck Strouse / Riptide 2.0:
Ryan Braun, Francisco Cervelli Confirm They Were Tony Bosch's Clients
Ryan Braun, Francisco Cervelli Confirm They Were Tony Bosch's Clients
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bleacher Report, Brew Beat, Baltimore Sun, baseballmusings.com and Federal Baseball
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
As Braun's name surfaces in PED scandal, another sad day for sports
As Braun's name surfaces in PED scandal, another sad day for sports
Discussion:
ESPN.com, JSOnline, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Mets Merized Online and HardballTalk
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Francisco, Collins say vet still Mets closer — PORT ST. LUCIE — Frank Francisco made his closing argument yesterday. This is an open and shut case. — “I am the closer,” Francisco told The Post at the Mets spring-training complex. — No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue, Kranepool Society and ESPN
RELATED:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets add final piece to 'pen in veteran righty Lyon — NEW YORK — The Mets completed their offseason bullpen makeover on Thursday, agreeing to terms with right-hander Brandon Lyon on a one-year contract, according to a source. The team has yet to announce the deal, which is pending a physical.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Confident Mets manager Collins not worried about lame-duck status
Confident Mets manager Collins not worried about lame-duck status
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Mets Merized Online and Metsblog
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets still motivated to sign Michael Bourn but adamant about keeping first-round draft pick — As it stands, the Mets have the unprotected 11th pick, because the Pittsburgh Pirates failed to sign their top draft choice last year, and received a top-10 pick this year as compensation.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and Mets Merized Online
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Lonely days ahead for Mark Buehrle — Pitcher's pit bull outlawed in Toronto, so family won't join him once season begins — A brief scouting report on Slater Buehrle: — He's 2 years old and weighs 65 pounds. His coat is slate blue, his ears are floppy and his eyes are a doleful shade of gray and green.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Profar still considering playing for Netherlands — After opting out, top prospect and Curacao native tells Texas he's undecided — ARLINGTON — Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar is back on the undecided list when it comes to the World Baseball Classic.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Sam Donnellon / Philly.com:
Better to judge baseball talent with the naked eye — ONCE, WHEN the Internet was not as friendly and we sought to observe athletic greatness rather than quantify it, sports was a simpler world. You watched under well-lit skies and inside of electrified arenas and amid pivotal moments …
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:
Over the Monster, NESN.com, Baseball Prospectus, Hardball Times, the joy of sox, ESPN, Boston Globe and The Soxaholix
RELATED:
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Levangie tabbed as Sox's new bullpen coach
Levangie tabbed as Sox's new bullpen coach
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Boston Globe, Over the Monster and the joy of sox