Top News:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles back in trade talks with Pittsburgh Pirates about Travis Snider — The Orioles have rekindled their trade talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire outfielder Travis Snider and are discussing a deal that would send two minor leaguers to Pittsburgh, according to industry sources.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles, Pirates Closing In On Travis Snider Trade — 6:36pm: One name involved in talks, according to Connolly, is Class-A left-hander Steven Brault (Twitter links). Connolly gets the sense that if Brault and a second prospect are sent to the Pirates, the second player would be a hitter.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Camden Chat, Bucs Dugout and Pirates Prospects
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox, Rangers Swap Anthony Ranaudo, Robbie Ross Jr. — Rangers executive vice president of communications John Blake has announced, on Twitter, that Texas has acquired right-hander Anthony Ranaudo from the Red Sox in exchange for left-hander Robbie Ross, Jr.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Over the Monster, Baseball Essential, Boston Globe and HardballTalk
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Marvin PaveGLOBE / BostonGlobe.com:
Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette dies at 78
Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette dies at 78
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Boston Globe and Sporting News Feed RSS
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Showalter on Duquette and Wieters on his throwing progression — The Blue Jays' announcement yesterday that Paul Beeston would return in 2015 as president and CEO shouldn't be viewed as breaking news. We heard about it as far back as the Winter Meetings. The team simply was offering confirmation.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and Sporting News Feed RSS
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Blue Jays, Orioles both deserve errors for handling of Duquette-Beeston mess
Blue Jays, Orioles both deserve errors for handling of Duquette-Beeston mess
Discussion:
Toronto Sun, National Post, Sportsnet.ca, Bluebird Banter and MLB Trade Rumors
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MLB, Not OFAC, Is Why Yoan Moncada Can't Sign — Major League Baseball, not the United States government, is the reason that Yoan Moncada and several other Cuban players have yet to begin their careers. — The U.S. has an embargo against Cuba, which means Cuban nationals must be regarded as …
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Phillies Still Talking to Brewers, Jays about Pap — The Phillies are still talking to the Brewers and Blue Jays about a Jonathan Papelbon trade. — Two sources said this evening that talks are alive, although the seriousness of those discussions is unclear.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Bluebird Banter, MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk, Bleacher Report and Fox Sports
Jay Jaffe / SI.com:
Winter Report Card: New York Mets — With little less than four weeks before pitchers and catchers report, we're checking in on how each team has fared in conducting its offseason business while acknowledging that there's still time for its prognosis to change. Teams will be presented in reverse order of finish from 2014.
Discussion:
Metsblog and Amazin' Avenue
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
HISTORY HURTS SHIELDS' CHANCES AT LANDING A BIG CONTRACT — A general manager posed an interesting question to me on Tuesday: — What is the largest free-agent contract ever given to a starting pitcher 33 or older? — The question is relevant, seeing as how the best remaining free agent, right-hander James Shields, is 33.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Kay LazarGlobe / BostonGlobe.com:
Tatupu found to have brain illness — The Tatupus' family home in Attleboro was always bustling with kids and a menagerie of pets. Yet amid the whirl and laughter, an unsettling darkness crept in. — Mosi Tatupu, a favorite of Patriots fans in the 1980s with his own “Mosi's Mooses” …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, Sporting News Feed RSS, NESN.com and ESPN
Gavin Lesnick / Arkansas Online:
Jermain Taylor ordered to hospital for evaluation — A Pulaski County judge Tuesday granted a request from Jermain Taylor's attorneys that the boxer be moved to a lockdown hospital for a full evaluation of his well-being. — Taylor was arrested last year in the shooting of his cousin …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Bleacher Report, Deadspin, Sporting News Feed RSS and Sportsnet.ca
Alden Gonzalez / Gonzo and ‘The Show’:
No Spring Training for Baldoquin, etc. ... Angels fans who want to get an up-close look at Roberto Baldoquin this spring will probably have to walk over to the Minor League side of the Tempe Diablo Stadium complex. — The Angels have opted against inviting the 20-year-old Cuban middle infielder …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Los Angeles Times, MLB Trade Rumors and Sporting News Feed RSS
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays broadcaster Staats breaks ribs in boating accident — ST. PETERSBURG — Dewayne Staats definitely didn't enjoy this outcome. — 3 Months Ago 2 Months Ago 2 Months Ago — What was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway to the Bahamas turned into a painful experience for the Rays TV broadcaster …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Former first baseman will aid players as guest Spring Training instructor — MVP Award winner and 1991 National League Rookie of the Year Jeff Bagwell amassed 2,314 hits, 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs during his career — HOUSTON — Jeff Bagwell, who has been largely out of baseball since …
Discussion:
HardballTalk