Top News:
Dave Cameron / Fox Sports:
ARE WIL MYERS' FLAWS FIXABLE? — Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Rays traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals for a package of talent centered around outfield prospect Wil Myers. The deal was divisive to say the least, primarily due to Myers' inclusion; teams generally just didn't trade prospects of his stature.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish, FanGraphs Baseball, DRaysBay, Red Sox Monster, McCovey Chronicles and AZ Snake Pit
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres, Rays, Nationals Agree To Three-Team Deal Centered Around Wil Myers — The Padres, Rays, and Nationals have agreed to a much-anticipated three-team swap — pending physical — that will deliver important pieces to and from each club, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com reports on Twitter.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, FanGraphs Baseball, GammonsDaily.com and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Blair Kerkhoffthe / Kansas City Star:
Royals reportedly reach agreement with starting pitcher Edinson Volquez — The Royals had three major priorities in the offseason, and they appear to be fulfilled. — Edinson Volquez, who went 13-7 in 31 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, has reached two-year contract agreement …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals To Sign Edinson Volquez — Starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and the Royals have agreed to a two year, $20MM deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). SB Nation's Chris Cotillo initially tweeted that the two sides were close. — A $20MM contract represents a win …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Terry Collins reveals Mets lineup plan and ‘the bat we need’ — Mets manager Terry Collins told The Post he is “so excited” about the upcoming season as he outlined his starting lineup, can't wait to watch Matt Harvey pitch and expects David Wright to have a bounce-back season.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk
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Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
2015 New York Mets Top 10 Prospects — Want More? Complete 2015 Top 10 Prospects Rankings — Get it all: Subscribe to Baseball America — Go 30 deep: Order the 2015 Prospect Handbook! — For the first time in a four-year tenure, general manager Sandy Alderson …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Pitcher returning from broken right elbow — 6/19/14: Gavin Floyd pitches six scoreless frames before exiting early with a broken elbow, striking out six while allowing just two hits — The Indians are betting on a bounce-back for former White Sox innings-eater Gavin Floyd.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers sign Petersen to Minors deal with invite
Brian Garfinkel / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves trade Varvaro to Red Sox for pitching prospect — The Braves traded reliever Anthony Varvaro to the Red Sox for right-handed minor league reliever Aaron Kurcz, a former Cubs prospect best known for being sent to Boston as compensation when the Cubs hired former Red Sox general manager Theo Eptstein in March 2012.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Chop County
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Anthony Varvaro
Red Sox Acquire Anthony Varvaro
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Tom Verducci / SI.com:
Mike Piazza on HOF candidates from the “Steroid Era” … The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot includes 34 names that can be distilled to one mystery: whether John Smoltz or Craig Biggio or — in what would be an upset almost a half century in the making — both gain election.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Dan ShaughnessyGLOBE / BostonGlobe.com:
Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling on Dan Shaughnessy's Hall of Fame ballot
Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling on Dan Shaughnessy's Hall of Fame ballot
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, HardballTalk, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and ESPN
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants To Re-Sign Sergio Romo — The Giants have agreed to a two-year, $15MM deal with righty Sergio Romo, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Romo can earn up to $1MM in incentives based upon games finished, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets. Now entering his age-32 season …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish and The LoHud Yankees Blog
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Wade Miley's preparation habits were apparently an issue for Diamondbacks — Wade Miley doesn't want to upset anyone with the Diamondbacks. He spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with them, leaves behind a lot of close friends and says he has no hard feelings.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, NESN.com, HardballTalk and Beisbol's Org
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Justin Ruggiano — The Mariners have reached a deal to acquire outfielder Justin Ruggiano from the Cubs, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Righty Matt Brazis is going to Chicago in return, the clubs announced. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports first reported the possible match on Ruggiano.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
To trade Hamilton or not to trade him? That is the question for Halos — FOX Sports — The Angels still view Josh Hamilton as a potential asset despite him not producing as expected when they signed him. — A scout with whom I speak regularly predicted Tuesday that Josh Hamilton …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Monkey with a Halo, CBSSports.com and ESPN
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
What the shift in U.S.-Cuba relations means for baseball — FOX Sports — Chicago White Sox Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu won the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year award. — Considering the full scope of U.S.-Cuba relations — with countless lives altered and lost on account of a half-century stalemate …