Top News:
Brian Costa / Wall Street Journal:
With Ticket Revenue Down, Yankees Must Keep Spending — A Revealing Look at Their Ticket Revenue Shows the Importance of Making the Playoffs — When the Yankees announced their $85 million signing of catcher Brian McCann earlier this week, owner Hal Steinbrenner cited the team's …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Source: Mariners going after Robinson Cano ‘guns-a-blazing’ — Cano's agents traveled to Seattle last week to listen to the Mariners pitch. The Mariners may have even made an offer worth more money than the Yanks' offer to Cano, the source added. — The Seattle Mariners are apparently …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, ESPN and Metsblog
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Robinson Cano had Seattle meeting with Mariners: source — The Mariners are giving this their best shot. Robinson Cano's representatives met with Mariners officials Tuesday in Seattle, according to an industry source. — “The meeting went very well,” the source told the Post Wednesday.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, ESPN, Lookout Landing and MLB Rumors
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Yankees Sign Jacoby Ellsbury, Bet On Speed Aging Well
Yankees Sign Jacoby Ellsbury, Bet On Speed Aging Well
Discussion:
ESPN, Over the Monster, GammonsDaily.com, NY Daily News, Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish and New York Post
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers tried to trade for Arencibia before non-tender — The Rangers had serious trade discussions with the Blue Jays about catcher J.P. Arencibia before he was non-tendered on Monday, according to industry sources. — A trade was close to being completed but the Rangers were reluctant to add another arbitration-eligible player.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Texas seeking backup catcher who can step up — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have many options to consider, but one issue that must be addressed before the offseason is over is finding a backup catcher to pair with Geovany Soto behind the plate in 2014. — There has been a run of catchers lately …
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Put Granderson on Sox shopping list — They have plenty of options to replace Ellsbury, but this one makes most sense — Looking for a free agent who fits the profile the Red Sox found so appealing last winter when they signed veterans Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew and Ryan Dempster?
Discussion:
Union-News, Boston Herald, Over the Monster and CBSSports.com
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cherington takes Ellsbury's departure in stride
Cherington takes Ellsbury's departure in stride
Discussion:
ESPN and MLB Rumors
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Jacoby Ellsbury contract on par with what Yankees always do - overpay
Jacoby Ellsbury contract on par with what Yankees always do - overpay
Discussion:
The Boston Globe, Boston Globe, New York Post, ESPN and GammonsDaily.com
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Sources: Curtis Granderson talks with Mets heat up — The Mets have stepped up their pursuit of free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson, sources said on Wednesday morning. The sides have progressed past exploratory stages of talks and are engaged in negotiations.
Discussion:
Metsblog and NY Daily News
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Mets, Curtis Granderson talks intensify
Mets, Curtis Granderson talks intensify
Discussion:
NY Daily News, CBSSports.com, New York Post, Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mariners hitting coach Howard Johnson thinks Ike Davis can still be a hit
Mariners hitting coach Howard Johnson thinks Ike Davis can still be a hit
Discussion:
Metsblog
Fox Sports:
Rosenthal: Making sense of Tuesday's hot day in Hot Stove — So much news, so much to digest. — The flurry of trade and free-agent activity the past two days raised a number of questions. Here are some answers, non-Jacoby Ellsbury division. — In a span of just more than 24 hours …
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Jane Lee / MLB.com:
A's acquire Gentry, Gregerson on another busy day
A's acquire Gentry, Gregerson on another busy day
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and ESPN
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays “hopeful” of re-signing Loney — The Rays still need a first baseman, and team president Matt Silverman said this morning they are “hopeful” of re-signing free agent James Loney, who is also of considerable interest to the Pirates. — “He's someone that we're interested in …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Pirates Prospects and Metsblog
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Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Pirates, Rays Targeting James Loney
Pirates, Rays Targeting James Loney
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, whygavs.com and Bucs Dugout
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds say Chapman likely to remain closer — GM Jocketty: Club has enough rotation depth to keep flamethrower in bullpen — CINCINNATI — Fans have grown accustomed to the excitement Reds closer Aroldis Chapman brings when he emerges from the bullpen to lock down a game.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Cincinnati Reds
Zach Day / Baseball Prospectus:
Measuring Pitching with TrackMan — The Secrets of Fastball Spin … Fastball Spin — An average MLB fastball makes 2200 revolutions per minute (RPMs) on its way to home plate. Spin is just one of 27 measurements provided by Trackman's technology. Trackman's military grade Doppler radar …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats eyeing Downs to fill lefty-reliever void — WASHINGTON — The Nationals are in need of left-handed relievers, and MLB.com has learned that the team has expressed interest in Scott Downs, who played for the Expos from 2000-04. A baseball source said the Nats have inquired about Downs at least twice.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Sources: Upcoming showcase will present NY Mets, other clubs with another shortstop option — A new possibility for shortstop has emerged for the Mets, as the team plans to send scouts to a showcase this weekend for Cuban defector Erisbel Arruebarruena, according to major league sources.
Discussion:
HardballTalk