Top News:
Christina Kahrl / MLB:
Giants fear Hunter Pence broke arm — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence was hit on the left forearm near the wrist by a pitch thrown by hard-throwing Chicago Cubs prospect Corey Black in the sixth inning of Thursday's spring training games.
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors, McCovey Chronicles, Yahoo Sports and Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Vogelsong Allows Slam in Giants' Win; Hunter Pence Hurt — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ryan Vogelsong gave up a grand slam to Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs first pick of last June's draft, but the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat a Chicago split-squad 8-6 on Thursday.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers Blog:
Rangers' Yu Darvish will have MRI exam, see team orthopedist Friday — Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish looks toward first base in the first inning during a Major League Baseball spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona Thursday March 5, 2015.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Lone Star Ball
Bill Price / NY Daily News:
Brian Cashman says Derek Jeter should be last Yankees captain — Derek Jeter was the longest tenured captain in the storied history of the Yankees. Brian Cashman thinks he should also be the last. — Speaking on The Mike Lupica Show on ESPN Radio Thursday, the Yankees general manager suggested …
Danny Abriano / Metsblog:
Colon sharp, but Mets fall to Nationals 5-4 — Bartolo Colon threw two perfect innings, but the Mets lost to the Nationals, 5-4, in Viera on Thursday night. — In his first Spring Training at-bat, John Mayberry, Jr. hit a solo home run off Max Scherzer to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Zack Wheeler, Mets have something to prove against Nationals this season — PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler was talking about how much fun it will be matching up against the Nationals this season, when suddenly he turned the conversation in a direction that suggests the Mets are itching …
Yahoo Sports:
Royals' Collins has ligament damage; Infante to get MRI exam (Yahoo Sports) — Royals reliever Tim Collins will seek a second opinion after an MRI exam revealed ligament damage in his left elbow, while second baseman Omar Infante was headed for his own MRI because of continued soreness in his right elbow.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Cincinnati.com:
Last Slide — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Joey Votto loves numbers. Baseball analytics mesh with his personality, which is as analytic as it gets. Votto might be a see-ball, hit-ball ballplayer. But only if you tell him why he should be, and back it up with statistics seemingly conjured deep in a bunker at MIT.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Drew Magary / Deadspin:
Moron USA Today Columnist Thinks The Cardinals Poop Vanilla Sprinkles — You know, we usually wait until October here to dump on the Cardinals and have the entire city of St. Louis send us polite death threats. But Bob Nightengale ... oh, Bob Nightengale ... you forced my hand early, you abominable f**king hack.
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
‘Boring’ Cardinals know how to win
‘Boring’ Cardinals know how to win
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Good Phight
Associated Press:
Maddon Makes Debut With Cubs in Spring Tie With A's — MESA, Ariz. — Manager Joe Maddon made his spring debut with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, a 2-2 tie against Barry Zito and the Oakland Athletics. — Travis Wood pitched two perfect innings for a split-squad of Cubs, and Mike Olt hit a two-run homer in the second inning.
RELATED:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Ross, Montero and Castillo capable of handling Lester, rotation
Ross, Montero and Castillo capable of handling Lester, rotation
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bleacher Nation
Yahoo Sports:
Sources: Cuban Hector Olivera could have damaged UCL in throwing arm — Serious concern exists that Cuban infielder Hector Olivera has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm, potentially hindering the market for a free agent who many expected to contribute in the major leagues this season, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and Athletics Nation
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Samardzija seems destined for free agency, but the trade was worth it — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox will tell you there were two big benefits to acquiring big right-hander Jeff Samardzija. First and most obviously, he is one of the better righty starters in baseball …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Phil Coke — 2:15pm: Coke's deal will pay him $2.25MM if he makes the Major League club with the opportunity to earn up to $900K more via incentives, reports MLive.com's Chris Iott (Twitter links). The incentives kick in beginning with his 35th appearance of the season, Iott adds.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys and Bucs Dugout
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phil Coke “Very Close” To Deal With Unknown Team
Phil Coke “Very Close” To Deal With Unknown Team
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo Sports, HardballTalk, Metsblog and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Fox Sports:
MLB's decision on Josh Hamilton could come as early as next week — FOX Sports — An arbitrator will be needed to decide Josh Hamilton's punishment. — A decision by Major League Baseball on discipline for Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is expected before Opening Day and could come …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers have offered to pay down “about half” the $56 million remaining over three years on Andre Ethier's contract in efforts to trade him, sources familiar with the talks say. — Ethier appears to be the likely odd man out in a slightly less crowded Dodgers outfield situation …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and Sporting News Feed RSS
RELATED:
Patrick Saunders / On the Rox:
Rockies right-handers Chacin, Butler up and down vs. D-Backs — TOPICS — Scottsdale, Ariz. — Their lines didn't look particularly good, but there was incremental progress for Rockies right-handers Jhoulys Chacin and Eddie Butler in their Cactus League debuts Thursday afternoon against the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields.