Top News:
Keith Law / ESPN:
Top 100 prospects of 2015 — A slugging third baseman and a five-tool outfielder come out on top — Welcome to ESPN Insider's 2015 ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. — This is my eighth such ranking for Insider, with a lot of the same names near the top of last year's list …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, Metsblog, Federal Baseball, NESN.com, Viva El Birdos, Purple Row, Camden Chat, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Talking Chop, River Avenue Blues, Athletics Nation, Atlanta Braves blog, Over the Monster, True Blue LA, Ultimate Astros, Pirates Prospects, ESPN and U-T San Diego stories
Teddy Cahill / MLB.com:
Buxton looking to defend No. 1 slot with 2015 rankings set to be unveiled — MLB.com's Jim Callis previews two of the top hitters and pitchers on the list of the Top 100 Prospects for 2015 — After an offseason filled with transactions and intrigue, Spring Training is fast approaching.
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Teddy Cahill / MLB.com:
Twins' Buxton leads list again, followed by Pederson (Dodgers), Soler (Cubs), Winker (Reds)
Twins' Buxton leads list again, followed by Pederson (Dodgers), Soler (Cubs), Winker (Reds)
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects and Red Reporter
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Bobby Ojeda splits with SNY as sides fail to agree on new contract — The sticking point, as it usually is, was money. The two sides remained far apart on the financial terms of a new package for Ojeda. — Bobby Ojeda will not return to SportsNet New York's Mets pre and postgame studio.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, New Jersey Online and Metsblog
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
MAKE RELIEVERS FACE MORE THAN 1 BATTER FOR FASTER GAME, MORE OFFENSE — The two goals seem at odds. Baseball wants to increase offense? Baseball wants to improve the pace of game? Wait, wouldn't more offense lead to longer, slower games? — The answer seemingly is yes, but eureka!
Discussion:
TBO.com, FanGraphs Baseball, Red Sox Monster, Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk, ESPN and SI.com
Justin Jouvenal / Washington Post:
Nationals' Jayson Werth pleads guilty to reckless driving, gets 5 days in jail — Washington Nationals' outfielder Jayson Werth will serve five days in jail after pleading guilty Thursday to a reckless driving charge in Fairfax County. — Under the terms of an agreement reached with prosecutors …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Phillies Nation, Nats Insider, Federal Baseball, Bleacher Report and Sportsnet.ca
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Commissioner Manfred talks pace, players, plans in new role — FOX Sports … ROSENTHAL: You're the commissioner now. Your signature is on the ball. What was your reaction when you first saw that? — MANFRED: You know, I never focused on the ball until they came to collect my signature.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Metsblog, New Jersey Online, The Mets Police and ESPN
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Third-base coach played for skipper in Minors, was on Gonzalez's Marlins staff — MLB.com Braves Reporter Mark Bowman discusses the Braves keeping Fredi Gonzalez as their skipper and hiring Bo Porter as a coach — ATLANTA — As Bo Porter distances himself from his days as the Astros' manager …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Report: Omar Minaya to join MLBPA — NEW YORK — Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is leaving his job as senior vice president of the San Diego Padres to become a special adviser to union head Tony Clark. — Minaya started in baseball management as a scout for the Texas Rangers, where he helped sign Sammy Sosa.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Active in the Hot Stove, Miami optimistic about competing for playoff spot — Ichiro Suzuki is introduced as a member of the Marlins organization in Japan, saying he's driven by the team's incredible enthusiasm — MIAMI — Their Hot Stove season started with the record-setting signing …
Discussion:
Marlin Maniac
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
CHAMBERLAIN'S STATUS PERPLEXING AS SPRING TRAINING NEARS — Where have you gone, Joba Chamberlain? — On the scale of free-agent mysteries, Chamberlain's case isn't as perplexing as, say, James Shields'. Still, Chamberlain at 29 is the youngest right-handed reliever on the open market.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bless You Boys
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Sign Chad Billingsley — 6:18pm: If Billingsley reaches all of the performance bonuses in his contract, he can earn another $6.5MM in salary, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweets. — 5:56pm: The Phillies signed right-hander Chad Billingsley to a one-year, $1.5MM contract, the team announced.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, True Blue LA, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Daily Dish