Top News:
NY Daily News:
A-Rod circus taking pressure off Gregorius at Yankees camp — TAMPA — On a back field at the Yankees' spring complex Thursday, far from the Alex Rodriguez show in the main stadium, Didi Gregorius quietly fielded ground balls and worked on turning double plays.
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Yahoo Sports and NBCSports.com
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NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman want no part of questions about Alex Rodriguez — TAMPA — So Alex Rodriguez was finally back on the field in uniform on Thursday, and as much as the Yankees wanted to put a happy face on it, the reunion and the attention that came with it produced some strain …
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New York Post, NBCSports.com and HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Sources: Hamilton faces suspension, though MLB trying to be lenient — FOX Sports … Major League Baseball officials are weighing how to penalize Josh Hamilton for a breach of the sport's drug policy while showing compassion for a former MVP who until recently had abided by the terms …
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NBCSports.com, NESN.com, CBSSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
Sky News:
First Photo Of ‘Jihadi John’ As Adult Revealed — The first known photograph has emerged of Mohammed Emwazi - the Islamic State militant known as “Jihadi John” - as an adult. — Showing him with a goatee beard and wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap, the image is revealed …
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Reuters, Associated Press, Yahoo Sports, Sporting News Feed RSS and HardballTalk
Globe and Mail:
Orioles' Machado says he's healthy, hopes to play full season — Six months after his second knee surgery in two years, Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado reported to spring training happy, and so far healthy. — Machado has yet to play a full major league season, and he's confident that 2015 is going to be the year.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
2015-16 MLB International Bonus Pools — Teams have received their international bonus pools for the upcoming 2015-16 signing period, which begins on July 2. The pools are up slightly from a year ago, with the top pool getting an extra $378,500 and the bottom pool getting an additional $102,300.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Over the Monster, redsminorleagues.com and Twins Now
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Hitters might cringe: Kimbrel unveils a changeup — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It was the first day of Braves full-squad workouts, which meant live batting practice on the backfields at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Braves hitters facing — mostly struggling against - Braves pitchers including …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
New ballgame for Buchholz — Sox starter is in a good place after productive offseason with Lackey and friends — FORT MYERS, Fla. — When Clay Buchholz was finished with his first session of throwing live batting practice Thursday, a man who had been watching closely from behind the cage …
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providencejournal.com, BostonGlobe.com, Comcast SportsNet and Over the Monster
Justin Klugh / Philly.com:
Phillies' uniforms ranked second by ESPN's Uni-Watch — The Phillies are going to doing a lot of tinkering over the next few years. Trades will be executed, positions will be swapped, moves will be decried and young players will be given chances. And all the while, everyone will complain …
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UT San Diego and New Jersey Online
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Max Scherzer Has a $210 Million Contract, and Is Thinking Big — VIERA, Fla. — On his way to the airport last month, after a news conference in Washington announcing the richest free-agent pitching contract in major league history, Max Scherzer had parting words for his agent, Scott Boras.
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MLB.com, Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Ace will take it easy while abdomen heals, should make Opening Day — Cardinals GM John Mozeliak discusses the encouraging diagnosis of Adam Wainwright's ab injury and expects the ace to be ready Opening Day — JUPITER, Fla. — Adam Wainwright's visit to a St. Louis-area specialist Thursday brought …
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BBST
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign Johan Santana To Minors Deal — FRIDAY: Santana will receive a $2.5MM base salary if he's in the big leagues, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets. He has an April 28 opt-out date, and it's not likely he'll be ready by Opening Day, tweets Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Shane Victorino on switch-hitting: ‘I would like to try it again’ — FORT MYERS, Fla. — There was some uncertainty if Shane Victorino would ever return to switch-hitting. Thursday, he offered some certainty. — The Red Sox outfielder proclaimed after taking batting practice …
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WEEI, HardballTalk and NESN.com