Top News:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays, Athletics Talking With Dayan Viciedo — 6:11pm: With Saunders now expected to return much sooner than had been anticipated, the Jays' impetus to add Viciedo seems to have diminished significantly. Indeed, GM Alex Anthopoulos indicated that the team will likely stick with its internal options …
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Oakland Athletics, Bluebird Banter, HardballTalk and Yahoo Sports
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Shi Davidi / Sportsnet.ca:
Blue Jays expect Saunders back early in season — DUNEDIN, Fla. - Michael Saunders should be ready to rejoin the Toronto Blue Jays by mid-April rather than around the all-star break after the left-fielder had 60 percent of the meniscus removed from his left knee during surgery Friday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Athletics Nation, CBSSports.com and Bluebird Banter
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 HardballTalk
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Jose Reyes critical of Ruben Tejada not earning Mets' everyday shortstop job … Baseball — Projecting all 15 AL teams' lineups
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New Jersey Online
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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MLB.com, Reuters, Associated Press, Sporting News Feed RSS, Yahoo Sports 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 …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Paul Casella / MLB.com:
New technology delivers one-of-a kind analysis — 10/12/14: As Tony Cruz loses track of the pitch, Matt Duffy races home from second base to tie the game at 4 in the 9th inning — Statcast tracking technology has provided a whole new way of analyzing the postseason, and Game 2 …
Discussion:
Giants Extra
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers will look at all angles to find Ramirez's replacement — Jim Callis discusses the acquisitions of Luis Sardinas, Corey Knebel and Marcos Diplan by the Brewers in exchange for Yovani Gallardo — PHOENIX — Brewers officials weren't surprised Friday when Aramis Ramirez announced he intends to retire after this season.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and MLB Trade Rumors
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves center fielder Upton (foot) likely out at least 2 months — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Melvin Upton Jr. will likely miss all of spring training after being diagnosed with inflammation of a bone in his left foot, and the Braves suddenly have another opening-day spot up for grabs.
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 and Athletics Nation
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
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 …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, New Jersey Online, UT San Diego and Seattle Mariners blog
Associated Press:
Cardinals' Wainwright has abdominal strain — JUPITER, Fla. — Adam Wainwright has been diagnosed with an abdominal strain but the St. Louis ace could be available to pitch the Cardinals' opener at Wrigley Field on April 5. — Wainwright strained the muscle on Monday while putting a 45-pound weight back on a rack.
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Yahoo Sports
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Ace will take it easy while abdomen heals, should make Opening Day