Top News:
Associated Press:
Peralta Plays 1st Game in Tigers' Loss to Marlins — MIAMI — Detroit's Jhonny Peralta played in his first game since completing a 50-game suspension, going 1 for 4 with an RBI in the Tigers' 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday night. — Peralta, who was suspended for his involvement …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Retaining Stanton Miami's priority — MIAMI — Speculation continues that the Marlins may be making front office changes after the season. — But there are strong indications that the club's top slugger will be part of the team's plans for 2014. — Sources say Giancarlo Stanton will remain with the Marlins.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Fire Larry Beinfest, Promote Dan Jennings — 3:25pm: As expected, assistant general manager Dan Jennings will assume Beinfest's duties, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale (on Twitter). ESPN's Jerry Crasnick adds (also via Twitter) that the Marlins have fired Jim Fleming, who was a special assistant to Beinfest.
Discussion:
Sun-Sentinel, HardballTalk and Fish Stripes
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Blue Jays' final series key to Draft positioning — TORONTO — The Blue Jays' final series of the year against the Rays will have implications for Tampa Bay in the American League Wild Card race, but it will also dictate where Toronto picks in next year's First-Year Player Draft.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, baseballmusings.com and Lone Star Ball
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Canadian Press:
Rays pick two road games in event of three-way wild card tie — NEW YORK — Tampa Bay decided it would rather have two chances to earn an AL wild-card berth rather than a home game in the event of a three-way tie. — Cleveland would host the Rays in a tiebreaker game Monday if there is a three …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive … and DRaysBay
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
BALTIMORE — Here's a statistic that captures the consistency, depth, relatively good health, talent and chemistry of the Red Sox this season: — They will finish the regular season without a four-game losing streak. — That hasn't been done in the majors since the 2005 St. Louis Cardinals.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Over the Monster
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Thornton on fence for Sox playoff pen — Veteran lefty reliever faces stiff competition for AL Division Series roster spot — BALTIMORE — Matt Thornton was ahead of the Red Sox on this beard thing. — “I started to grow one probably mid-August last year and didn't shave 'til right before spring training,” he said.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Major Changes Could Come For Cuban Talent — The market for Cuban players—and the way that major league teams are able to scout them—could be on the verge of significant overhaul. — Mexican League officials are in discussions with the Cuban government to import top Cuban players to play in the Mexican League next season.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and MLB Rumors
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Associated Press:
Kris Medlen, Braves edge Phillies despite Cliff Lee's 13 K's — ATLANTA — Kris Medlen is pitching like an ace. — That's good news for the Atlanta Braves' postseason hopes. — Chris Johnson led off the eighth inning with a homer to spoil an otherwise dominant start by Cliff Lee …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Talking Chop and ESPN
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Hamilton to put weight back on during offseason — ARLINGTON — Don't expect Josh Hamilton to come into Spring Training light again. — Last offseason, he started a natural-juice diet — or “lifestyle change,” as he calls it — and entered at an estimated 227 pounds, roughly 20 pounds lighter than normal.
Discussion:
NESN.com and HardballTalk
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
His fate may be unclear, but GM Jerry Dipoto plans for Angels' future
His fate may be unclear, but GM Jerry Dipoto plans for Angels' future
Discussion:
Gonzo and ‘The Show’, MLB Rumors, MLB.com and HardballTalk
Josh Vitale / MLB.com:
Yankees give Sandman a magical sendoff — NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera sat all alone at the end of the dugout late Thursday night. The game was over, the Rays were celebrating their victory on the field and the Yankees had already retreated to the clubhouse.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and Baseball Prospectus
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers legend Brown dies at 74 — MIAMI — Gates Brown, who was a key member of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship team and a Major League legend as a pinch-hitter who was a Detroit icon long after his playing days were done, passed away on Friday at age 74.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Final Score: Brewers 4 Mets 2 — The Least You Should Know... Carlos Torres allowed three runs in the first inning thanks to two home runs, but didn't allow anything else through six innings. — Lucas Duda broke out of his 1-for-27 slump with a single, double and a run scored.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue