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 …
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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
Manny Navarro / Fish Bytes:
Marlins All-Star RF Giancarlo Stanton struck in the head by top pick Jose Fernandez during sim game, video included — JUPITER — Marlins All-Star right field Giancarlo Stanton, struck in the head by a fastball by top prospect Jose Fernandez during a simulated game Wednesday afternoon …
Discussion:
Deadspin, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
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Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit in head by Jose Fernandez pitch — (UPDATED at 2 p.m. with reaction from Marlins manager and photos.) — A scary moment this afternoon on Field 4 where the Marlins were playing a sim game. — Giancarlo Stanton was hit on the back of the head …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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:
NESN.com, CBSSports.com, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Getting Blanked
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
Dan Shaughnessy / The Boston Globe:
Red Sox put all the blame on Bobby Valentine — FORT MYERS, Fla. — A meteor exploded over Russia last Friday. — I'm pretty sure it was Bobby Valentine's fault. — Blaming Bobby is the new parlor game here in southwest Florida. It's all the rage. Alfredo Aceves pulls a nutty?
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Cornerstone at the hot corner?
Cornerstone at the hot corner?
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, Bluebird Banter, Over the Monster, NESN.com and Boston Herald
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 and Phillies Nation
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:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Righty Miller shut down for precautionary reasons — JUPITER, Fla. — Right-hander Shelby Miller will not throw his scheduled side session on Wednesday for precautionary reasons, manager Mike Matheny said before the team took the field for workouts. — Miller alerted the training staff …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
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
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:
MLB Daily Dish, Bucs Dugout and ESPN