Top News:
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:
MLB Daily Dish, Hot Stove and The Brewer Nation
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Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles reach agreement with Steve Johnson — The Orioles have reached agreement with pitcher Steve Johnson on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, allowing the Baltimore native to stay home. — Johnson, 27, is rehabbing from surgery in September to remove a bone spur behind his right shoulder.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Guillermo Heredia Leaves Cuba — Guillermo Heredia, the center fielder on Cuba's 2013 World Baseball Classic team known for his defense, has left the island to pursue a contract with a major league team, Baseball America has learned. — Heredia, 23, will be exempt from the international bonus pools …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, NBCSports.com and Hot Stove
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Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Sources: MLB to allow minor leaguers to play in Pan American Games — FOX Sports — Major League Baseball clubs will allow minor league players to participate in the Pan American Games in Toronto this July. — MLB-affiliated players who aren't protected on 40-man rosters are expected …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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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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
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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'
Discussion:
Hot Stove and Talking Chop
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:
CBSSports.com, OutsidePitchMLB LLC, HardballTalk and Bleeding Yankee Blue
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:
Amazin' Avenue, CBSSports.com and Federal Baseball
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, Boston Sports Media Watch, Bleacher Report, Deadspin, The Big Lead, SBNation.com and ESPN
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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
MLB:
Giants DFA Scutaro after spinal fusion surgery — SAN FRANCISCO — Second baseman Marco Scutaro has been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants as he recovers from potential career-ending back surgery. — The Giants say they plan to retain Scutaro and continue working with him through his rehabilitation.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and MLB Daily Dish
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
