Top News:
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:
Bleacher Report, HardballTalk, Deadspin, The Big Lead, MLB Daily Dish, Sliding Into Home, ESPN and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
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, CBSSports.com and Bleacher Report
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Lucchino says Sox will look into Schilling claim — Curt Schilling went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA during his 20-year big league career. (Elsa/Getty Images) — BOSTON — Red Sox team president/CEO Larry Lucchino said Thursday that the club would look into Curt Schilling's claim that the pitcher …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Lucchino ‘surprised’ by Schilling's accusations — Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said on Wednesday that “former members of the organization” presented him with the option of using performance-enhancing drugs as a way to overcome the shoulder injury that ended his career.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
It's time for Major League Baseball to put Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez and their accused peers in front of a grand jury, under oath, to get the truth — Braun once again says he can explain everything, he was using Bosch only as a consultant, and that that their relationship had nothing to do with performance-enhancing drugs.
Discussion:
It's About The Money and Only Baseball Matters
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Mariners, Felix Hernandez agree to $175 million deal — Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract that should be finalized before spring training, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, a person familiar with the contract details told USA TODAY Sports.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Bleacher Report, Lookout Landing, Seattle Mariners blog, True Blue LA, NESN.com, McCovey Chronicles, Bleed Cubbie Blue, SI Tracking Blog, CBSSports.com, U.S.S. Mariner, Over the Monster, Bluebird Banter, It's About The Money, Baseball Nation, ESPN, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Report: Hernandez, M's agree to $175M deal — Felix Hernandez has agreed to a new seven-year, $175 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, USA Today Sports reported Thursday. — The deal would make Hernandez the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.
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:
HardballTalk, Metsblog, MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN and Kranepool Society
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets add final piece to 'pen in veteran righty Lyon
Mets add final piece to 'pen in veteran righty Lyon
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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:
Metsblog, MLB Daily Dish and Amazin' Avenue
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Don't count on Red Sox getting in hunt for Kyle Lohse — The rumors regarding the Red Sox and Kyle Lohse resurfaced earlier this week thanks in part to a tweet from Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and Sirius/XM Radio ... According to a major league source, however, it is “highly unlikely” …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com, Viva El Birdos and MLB Rumors
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
Scott Cacciola / New York Times:
Line Up, Shut Up and Maybe Mr. Jeter Will Sign — TAMPA, Fla. — Shortly before noon, and nearly a week before spring training was to begin, a Yankees employee named John Johnson received word on his two-way radio that Derek Jeter had wrapped up his work for the day and would be leaving the team's minor-league complex here.
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, MLB Daily Dish, Federal Baseball, Baseball Prospectus, Lady Loves Pinstripes, Bless You Boys, HardballTalk and JSOnline
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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