Top News:
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Barry Bonds tutoring A-Rod at Bay Area facility — Alex Rodriguez, trying to make the comeback of the century, has gotten a few tips from the best hitter since Ted Williams. — Barry Bonds, who spent time tutoring Giants hitters last season — Michael Morse credited Bonds …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod reportedly working out with Bonds — Alex Rodriguez is expected to see most of his time at designated hitter in 2015. — NEW YORK — As Alex Rodriguez prepares to return to a big league diamond, he appears to have linked with an unexpected workout partner: Barry Bonds.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Bullpen, roster flexibility and improved defense key to competing in tough division — Indians reporter Jordan Bastian discusses how the signing of Scott Downs could affect the rest of the team's left-handed bullpen pitchers — CLEVELAND — From the snow-covered steps of the home dugout …
Discussion:
Major League Bastian
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Club planning to implement new Spring Training workouts — 9/17/14: Michael Brantley leans forward before sliding in left field to make a catch on a line drive off the bat of Chris Carter — CLEVELAND — Indians manager Terry Francona has mentioned multiple times this winter that improving …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Minor Moves: Marlins, Johnson, Willis — These are the day's notable minor moves: — In announcing the team's non-roster spring invites, the Marlins revealed a few new minor league signings. Among them are several right-handed relievers who could challenge for a pen spot.
Discussion:
School of Roch, Hot Stove and The Brewer Nation
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves To Sign Kelly Johnson To MiLB Deal — The Braves have agreed to sign infielder Kelly Johnson to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports on Twitter. The 32-year-old is a client of Relativity Baseball. — Johnson spent his first ten years …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Revere out to become more than just a singles hitter — READING - Ben Revere was part of the contingent charged with selling the Phillies' rebuilding plan during the team's winter banquet stop inside a Reading hotel Tuesday night. More than a few people, of course, are not sold on Revere …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Crashburn Alley
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Jake Kaplan / Philly.com:
Amaro on Hamels: 'I don't really foresee him being moved'
Amaro on Hamels: 'I don't really foresee him being moved'
Discussion:
Hot Stove, Talking Chop, SI.com, MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and Associated Press
Rick Stroud / Tampa Bay Times:
Bucs QB Johnson paid to have footballs altered before SB 37 — Four days before the biggest game of his life, quarterback Brad Johnson broke an NFL rule to help the Bucs win Super Bowl XXXVII. — At 34, Johnson had developed a few compulsions during his career.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, The Big Lead, Deadspin, Boston Sports Media Watch, SBNation.com, Bleacher Report and ESPN
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Barry Jackson / Sports Buzz:
Marlins still sorting out issues: Jose, Haren, Ichiro, bullpen, bench, batting order; Heat, Dolphins, Canes chatter — WEDNESDAY BUZZ COLUMN — The Marlins open spring training on Feb. 20 with what appears to be their best team in many years, but also with several issues that must be sorted out over the next two months.
Discussion:
OutsidePitchMLB LLC, HardballTalk, CBSSports.com and Bleeding Yankee Blue
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Flexibility, communication part of philosophy management is embracing — LOS ANGELES — Six decades after Al Campanis wrote “The Dodger Way to Play Baseball,” a new management team is rewriting the way the Dodgers will play baseball. — It doesn't stop with a transformative front office or a stunningly rebuilt Major League roster.
Discussion:
Dodger Insider
Amanda Comak / Curly W Live:
Nationals sign RHP Max Scherzer to seven-year contract — Facebook: Nationals — Solidifying their starting rotation as arguably the best assembled in Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer on a seven-year contract on Wednesday.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and Federal Baseball
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards ‘perfect fit’ for slugger Reynolds — At age 31, veteran first baseman/third baseman Mark Reynolds isn't apt to change his spots very much. — His all-or-nothing approach probably has been frustrating to his managers and, many times, to the new Cardinal himself.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
Teddy Cahill / MLB.com:
Dodgers' 18-year-old Urias leads list, followed by White Sox's Rodon, Jays' Norris — MLBPipeline.com's 2015 Top 100 Prospects list will be unveiled on Friday, Jan. 30, on MLB.com, with the Top 50 revealed during a one-hour show on MLB Network at 9 p.m. ET.
Discussion:
Dodger Insider
Jonathan Hodgson / MLB.com:
Blue Jays' Winter Tour impacts fans, players — The Blue Jays head west to Calgary to visit kids at the Alberta Children's Hospital and meet fans at CrossIron Mills — The Toronto Blue Jays kicked off the Calgary leg of Winter Tour 2015 presented by TD on Tuesday, visiting patients …
Discussion:
Globe and Mail, Bluebird Banter and ANDREWSTOETEN.com