Top News:
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Get ready for an awkward spring training with the Phillies — Pitchers, catchers, and a bunch of guys the Phillies spent the offseason trying to trade will report to spring training Thursday. Contrary to popular belief, this team is going to be a contender.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, MLB Trade Rumors and The Good Phight
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers' new skipper preparing to bring the franchise back into playoff contention — Rangers GM Jon Daniels and manager Jeff Banister talk about the team's need to establish an identity during Spring Training — ARLINGTON — Manager Jeff Banister was one of the featured speakers …
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News and Lone Star Ball
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Gallardo, Ludwick prominent veterans acquired after club's tough 2014 season
Gallardo, Ludwick prominent veterans acquired after club's tough 2014 season
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Andrew McCutchen / The Players' Tribune:
Left Out — A bunch of 12-year-old kids had their hearts broken this week. Jackie Robinson West, a team from Chicago's South Side, won the U.S. title at the 2014 Little League World Series. They achieved their dream in dramatic fashion. I remember watching their pitcher give …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
D-Backs Avoid Arbitration With Addison Reed — The number of unsettled arbitration cases is rapidly winding down, but there are still a handful to be resolved. We'll keep track of today's minor settlements here, with all projections coming via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz...
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins Win Arbitration Hearing Against David Phelps
Marlins Win Arbitration Hearing Against David Phelps
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Avoid Arbitration With Aroldis Chapman
Reds Avoid Arbitration With Aroldis Chapman
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians interested in Dayan Viciedo; face uphill battle to sign him — Former White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo (right) has drawn interest from the Indians and other teams after being released by Chicago on Feb. 4. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and Let's Go Tribe
The Big Lead:
Fat Jameis Winston Photo is a Month Old, Here's the Story — Jameis Winston looks ... fat? Out of shape? Photos can be deceptive, but this one popped up on twitter Saturday and quickly made the rounds. Its provenance was unknown, so I checked in with QB guru George Whitfield …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and Sporting News Feed RSS
Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com:
Price, Heyward and Zimmermann among best who may test open market — The MLB Now panel continues to examine the 2016 free-agent market for pitchers, including Rick Porcello, Jeff Samardzija and Mat Latos — The Detroit Tigers have been aggressive in recent seasons in an effort to end a 30-year championship drought.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Teri Thompson / NY Daily News:
Sources: Yankees offer up Yankee Stadium to Alex Rodriguez for a potential public apology press conference — The Yankees have offered Rodriguez the option of making a public apology at Yankee Stadium, rather than creating a massive distraction at spring training with his mea culpa news conference.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Manager's nephew, former Phillie have Major League experience — 9/7/13: With his back turned, Josh Roenicke stops an Adam Lind comebacker that goes between his legs, throwing to first for the out — MILWAUKEE — The nephew of Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and a former Phillie …
Kiley McDaniel / FanGraphs Baseball:
Yadier Alvarez Emerges While Other Cubans Move Closer to Deals — I returned a few days ago from a three-day trip to the Dominican to see top July 2nd prospects (more on that in the coming weeks) and also a workout that had 18 Cuban players in it. Two of those 18 were big-time prospects …
Discussion:
Venom Strikes, Baseball America, MLB Trade Rumors, McCovey Chronicles and Sportsnet.ca
MLB:
Report: MLB could shrink strike zone in 2016 — With offense on the decline and strikeouts at an all-time high, major league baseball is looking into shrinking the strike zone, according to a Yahoo Sports report. — Any formal rules change would have to be approved by baseball's Playing Rules Committee.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, HardballTalk and Sporting News Feed RSS
Colin McConnell / Toronto Star:
Pioneering Toronto Star baseball writer Alison Gordon dead at 72 — Gordon, who covered the Blue Jays for the Star from 1979 to 1984, was Major League Baseball's first female beat writer. — Alison Gordon, shown here in 2001, was the Toronto Star's Blue Jays' beat writer from 1979-84.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bluebird Banter, Camden Chat, ANDREWSTOETEN.com, MLB.com, HardballTalk and FanGraphs Baseball
Associated Press:
It's Official _ All-Star Game to Be Played in Miami in 2017 — MIAMI — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made it official Friday — the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game. — Manfred's announcement came at a news conference at Marlins Park. Among those attending were Gov. Rick Scott …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Gaslamp Ball