Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Jose Iglesias no longer a lock — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jose Iglesias was home in Miami getting ready to celebrate the holidays with his family when he learned the Red Sox had signed Stephen Drew to play shortstop. — There would be no competition for a position Iglesias thought he would be given a chance to earn.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Flaherty's HR Gives Orioles 3-3 Tie With Red Sox — SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Flaherty's two-run home run in the 10th inning earned the Baltimore Orioles a 3-3 tie with a Boston Red Sox split squad on Friday. — The Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the 10th on a home run …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
NY Mets great and Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver feeling better, winning his battle with Lyme disease — It's been a living hell of uncertainty, confusion, depression and downright fear. The Mets' ‘Franchise,’ author of 311 career victories was not himself after his diagnosis …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Sign Brennan Boesch — The Yankees have officially announced the team's signing of Brennan Boesch, tweets Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. — The Yankees agreed to terms with the free agent outfielder earlier today, as reported by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (all Twitter links).
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matt Carpenter focuses on hitting — • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196 — JUPITER, Fla. • Sometimes, when a baseball player is asked to change positions he places so much emphasis on his defense that his offense suffers.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers have twice tried to lock up All-Star shortstop Elvis Andrus to a long-term contract and are expected to make one more run at it this year, but people familiar with their thinking suggest that if the Rangers can't secure him to a multiyear deal they will likely trade him in “10 to 12 months.”
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Sporting News Feed RSS and MLB Rumors
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Jose Santiago Signs With Mariners For $205,000 — Remember the unnamed converted catcher profiled in Baseball America last month from a recent private workout in the Dominican Republic? His name is Jose Santiago, and he has signed with the Mariners for $205,000.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
After pitching BP, Hughes expresses optimism — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes threw 26 pitches in a batting-practice session on Thursday and said that he believes it is still possible to be ready for the beginning of the regular season. — Hughes was sidelined last month …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Spring training leftovers for breakfast — SARASOTA, Fla. - Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro is one of the many connections made by executive vice president Dan Duquette that may pay off for the Orioles. — Niekro is working for the Orioles as a consultant of sorts, as he mentors knuckleballer …
Discussion:
Camden Chat and baseballmusings.com
New York Post:
POST-CAST: Mets GM Alderson joins Vaccaro, Hale — Mets general manager Sandy Alderson joins Post columnist Mike Vaccaro and Mark Hale on this week's Post-Cast. — Alderson will talk about why manager Terry Collins has yet to receive an extension, David Wright's WBC heroics …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Metsblog and ESPN
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Feb. 26-March 8 — Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 26-March 8. — Arizona Diamondbacks — Signed: RHP Josh Booty — It's official: The Diamondbacks actually signed 37-year-old Josh Booty …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and MLB Daily Dish
Most Recent:
Kelly awaits second opinion before opting for elbow surgery … PEORIA, Ariz. — Casey Kelly is awaiting a second opinion before making a final decision on elbow reconstruction surgery. — But the 23-year-old starting pitcher Thursday said there appears to be few good options other than “Tommy John” surgery.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Prospect Watch