Top News:
Jared Diamond / Wall Street Journal:
Why Mets Can Win This Year (Seriously) — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—The Mets won 74 games last year, their splashiest off-season move involved trading the reigning Cy Young winner for prospects and they play in perhaps baseball's strongest division. This doesn't look like an organization that expects to seriously compete in 2013.
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
After tough season, NY Mets first baseman Ike Davis is more fleet of foot — That is quite a difference from 2012, when as Davis puts it, ‘I sucked at everything.’ — Still recovering from major ankle injury in 2011, Ike Davis is showing spring in his step.
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Wheeler & Harvey providing the early heat — PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler followed Matt Harvey yesterday in a short bullpen session, perhaps a sign of things to come for the Mets' Future Aces. — Manager Terry Collins set it up so Wheeler lockers next to Harvey to soak up advice on the path to the majors.
Discussion:
Metsblog
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Mike Piazza's Memoir Spins Tales and Denies Steroids — As balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame geared up earlier this winter, rumors began to circulate about why the release of Mike Piazza's book was being pushed back to February, a month after the voting would be concluded and the final results tabulated.
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles near multi-year extension with O'Day — The Orioles reached agreements with pitchers Jim Johnson and Jason Hammel on one-year contracts earlier tonight, and they're close to a multi-year extension with reliever Darren O'Day, according to industry sources. — The deal is “all but done,” according to one source.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Steve Melewski
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Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Friday morning Orioles observations: Saunders, Jurrjens, arbitration … Now that former Orioles left-hander Joe Saunders has reportedly agreed to terms with the Mariners on a one-year deal, we know who is not going to be in Sarasota when spring training opens next week.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Leaner Lynn turns heads at Cards camp — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — JUPITER, Fla. • Cardinals righthander Lance Lynn, who was challenged and helped by the club to improve his fitness level during the offseason, arrived at the team's complex Friday …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright, Garcia focus on present
Wainwright, Garcia focus on present
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks discuss contract extension with Cano — NEW YORK — Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said on Friday that the Yankees have spoken with second baseman Robinson Cano about a contract extension. — “There's been a conversation or two,” Steinbrenner told reporters in Tampa …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Mariners reiterate no extension imminent for Felix — Club insists reports of long-term deal with ace are not founded — SEATTLE — Despite the flood of national reports on Thursday saying Felix Hernandez and the Mariners had agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract …
Discussion:
Seattle Mariners blog and ESPN.com
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
M's taking big risk with Felix deal
M's taking big risk with Felix deal
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Pinstriped Bible, Lone Star Ball and USA Today
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw have mutual interest in pact, GM says
Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw have mutual interest in pact, GM says
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Mark Prior in the present tense — Former big league ace has found virtue in quest to return to the Majors — The sun is hot on top of a hill in San Diego and the house is white, so white that it looks perfect. A late-model 1990s sedan stops in the middle of the quiet street …
Chicago Tribune:
Epstein: Cubs believe Marmol is innocent — Closer's lawyer, agent say he'll be ready for start of spring training — MESA, Ariz. — After a judge in the Dominican Republic sent the domestic abuse case against Carlos Marmol to a higher court Friday, Cubs president Theo Epstein said he believes his closer will be exonerated.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bleed Cubbie Blue and CBSSports.com
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards sign Freese to one-year deal — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals and 2011 World Series MVP David Freese have agreed to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration, an official confirmed.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk