Top News:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves, Cardinals Trade Jason Heyward For Shelby Miller — The Cardinals have acquired right fielder Jason Heyward and right-hander Jordan Walden from the Braves in exchange for righty Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins, the teams announced.
RELATED:
Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bernie: Heyward a Cards' trade candidate? — With the Cardinals seeking to upgrade their lineup, I've been taking a player-by-player look at some of the candidates. So far we've evaluated veteran free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz and Cuban free-agent slugger Yosmany Tomas.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Viva El Birdos, Lone Star Ball and Talking Chop
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
John Hart On The Heyward/Miller Trade — During a conference call with reporters, Braves president of baseball operations John Hart discussed several aspects of today's blockbuster trade that saw Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to go to the Cardinals in exchange for right-handers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Talking Chop
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays To Sign Russell Martin — Toronto-born Russell Martin is heading home, as the free agent catcher has agreed to a five-year, $82MM contract with the Blue Jays. The contract doesn't have any no-trade protection, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweets, as per the Jays' team policy.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Bucs Dugout, FanGraphs Baseball, SBNation.com, MLB Daily Dish and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Sources: Blue Jays continue to show interest in Jon Lester — The Blue Jays evidently aren't messing around this offseason. — While getting free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract (as first reported by Peter Gammons, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal) …
Discussion:
Hot Stove, CBSSports.com, SBNation.com, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Marlins' Stanton mega deal is in place: $325M, 13 years, early opt out — Superstar outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and the Marlins now have a deal in place for a record $325 million over a record 13 years, sources connected to the team say. That landmark contract keeps the beloved Stanton …
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
Marlins serious about hooking slugger Giancarlo Stanton
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, The Good Phight, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers announce 2015 Spring Training schedule — The Rangers play their home Cactus League games at Surprise Stadium in Arizona. — ARLINGTON — The Rangers will open their Cactus League schedule against the Royals at 1:05 p.m. MT on March 4 against the Royals at Surprise Stadium.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and ESPN
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Texas fans' questions — 9/28/14: Elvis Andrus snags Josh Donaldson's soft grounder to shortstop with his bare hand and slings to first for the out — The Mets are looking for a shortstop and appear to have pitching, whether it is Jon Niese …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Padres are fifth team in Panda derby; Sandoval visits Boston this week — The Padres have interest in Pablo Sandoval, expanding the field of known interested teams in the star third baseman to five. — The incumbent Giants, where he has won three World Series rings, and the deep-pocketed Red Sox …
Discussion:
Hot Stove, CBSSports.com, McCovey Chronicles, U-T San Diego stories, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Sandy Alderson wants Harvey to be available in September — Sandy Alderson made it sound like he does not intend to handle Matt Harvey's first year back from Tommy John surgery in the same way the Nationals handled Stephen Strasburg. — “The key for us is figuring out a way to manage …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Sign Misael Siverio To Minor League Deal — 2:52pm: Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs.com reports that Siverio received a $275K bonus and has a split contract that will pay him $508K in the Majors or $120K in the minors (Twitter links). He adds that Siverio isn't a big guy …
Discussion:
From the Corner …, Mariners Musings and Lookout Landing
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Release Carlos Marmol — The Reds have released right-hander Carlos Marmol, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports. Cincinnati signed Marmol to a minor league deal in May, though he was placed on the restricted list just a few weeks later after he left the team without permission.
Discussion:
Baseball America and HardballTalk
