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:
Yahoo Sports, MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, McCovey Chronicles and Gaslamp Ball
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Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Hamels sharp in spring debut — Thirteen days after carefully winding his way through difficult questions about trade rumors and his true baseball desires, Cole Hamels made his 2015 debut. — Hamels took the mound at Bright House Field against the New York Yankees on a rainy Friday afternoon in Clearwater.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
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:
NBCSports.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Sign Joe Beimel — 2:19pm: Beimel would earn $1.5MM if he breaks camp with the club and can earn more via incentives, per Grant. — 1:03pm: Beimel's deal is an MLB contract but is not guaranteed, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. — 12:41pm: The Rangers …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and HardballTalk
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Greinke faces hitters, says arm ‘doing good’ — GLENDALE, Ariz. — A little over two weeks after getting a lubricating injection in his right elbow, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke threw off a mound to hitters Friday and said afterward he has not had any problems with his arm since receiving treatment.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Last call: Braun chats up umpire about pace of play — 3/5/15: Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun talks about adapting to the new pace-of-play rules during his first Spring Training at-bats … • Thursday's Cactus League opener marked Ryan Braun's introduction to Major League Baseball's …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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:
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
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
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
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.
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
‘Boring’ Cardinals know how to win
‘Boring’ Cardinals know how to win
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Good Phight
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
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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