Top News:
ESPN:
Sources: Gonzalez not tied to banned drugs … MIAMI — Five more professional baseball players have connections to a South Florida clinic at the heart of a widening doping scandal, according to documents obtained by “Outside the Lines.” — The new players listed in documents from the Biogenesis …
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets star David Wright has a strong message for fellow players about steroids: ‘If you cheat, I hope you get caught’ — Wright makes comments despite fact he is represented by Seth and Sam Levinson, who found themselves in the middle of a scandal last summer when their client Melky Cabrera drew …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Breaking down Red Sox' trade with Mariners for Mike Carp — The Red Sox completed a trade with the Mariners for Mike Carp. (AP) — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox have added to their pool of potential first basemen/outfielders, acquiring Mike Carp from the Mariners in exchange for a player to be named and/or cash.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Boston Globe, Over the Monster, the joy of sox and Brew Beat
Fox Sports:
How long will Price be in Tampa Bay? — PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. — David Price is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, the face of the Tampa Bay Rays, and the smiling, tweeting star chosen for the MLB 2K13 video game cover. — He's also a Vanderbilt-educated realist.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Getting Blanked and HardballTalk
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Now Batting in the Majors This Season: A Stronger, Mandatory Helmet — The beanball is one of the scariest plays in sports, a baseball hurtling at the head of a batter who cannot get out of the way. Over the years, they have led to concussions, skull fractures and, in a handful of cases, deaths.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Cornerstone at the hot corner? — Budding third baseman Middlebrooks sees himself with Red Sox for long term — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks was sitting at his locker and putting his uniform on when teammate Dustin Pedroia leaned in close. — “You see my guy?”
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, NESN.com and Boston Herald
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / The Boston Globe:
Red Sox put all the blame on Bobby Valentine
Red Sox put all the blame on Bobby Valentine
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Reviewing This Year's Article XX(B) Free Agents In Camp On Minor League Deals — All players invited to major league spring training must be in camp today, and many of them will be suiting up with new organizations. — Somewhere between marquee free agent imports—such as Zack Greinke …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Halladay unlikely to be Opening Day starter — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies are not ready to name their Opening Day starter, although it seems unlikely to be Roy Halladay. — Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said Monday afternoon that Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will probably pitch …
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's Thornton sidelined by elbow soreness — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Thornton was held out of drills Tuesday because of left elbow discomfort. — An MRI revealed inflammation but no structural damage, manager Robin Ventura said after the workout.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, MLB Injury News and HardballTalk
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Kyle Lohse Rumors: Tuesday — Kyle Lohse talked to B.J. Rains for MLBTR yesterday about his displeasure at twice going to arbitration hearings earlier in his career. Lohse no longer has to worry about the arb process but has faced a different kind of awkwardness this offseason —
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, MLB Daily Dish and ESPN
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs to improve seventh-inning stretch, modernize music at Wrigley — MESA, Ariz. - The seventh-inning stretch has been a polarizing part of Chicago Cubs games since the introduction of guest conductors in 1998, the year Harry Caray died. — Some fans love it, while others wish the tradition …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and CBS Chicago
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Peavy pleased offseason path led back to White Sox — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jake Peavy wanted to stay with the White Sox. — The White Sox wanted to keep the right-hander at the top of their starting rotation. In fact, he was the linchpin of their offseason plan. — Seems like a fairly easy deal to execute, doesn't it?