Top News:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Michael Matuella To Undergo Tommy John Surgery — Top draft prospect Michael Matuella, a Duke University righty, has torn his ulnar collateral ligament and will undergo Tommy John surgery, Keith Law of ESPN.com reports on Twitter. He had been tabbed as a possible first overall pick.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo Sports, Baseball America, Over the Monster, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Christian Vazquez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery — The Red Sox have announced that catcher Christian Vazquez will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow tomorrow. The surgery, which will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., will sideline Vazquez for the entire season.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Baseball America:
Duke's Matuella Done For Season — Duke righthander Michael Matuella, who entered the season as the top draft-eligible college pitcher and a projected top-five pick despite a back condition that was discovered in the fall, will miss the remainder of the college season due to a completely torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Discussion:
Sporting News Feed RSS
Ira Boudway / Bloomberg Business:
Holy Cow! The Chicago Cubs Finally Have a Winning Business Plan — The new strategy to end a century of futility? Run it like a modern baseball team … When Jon Lester came to visit the Chicago Cubs the week before Thanksgiving, the team brought him to its brick offices a couple of blocks north of Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
Chicago and Sporting News Feed RSS
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Associated Press:
Bumgarner Outpitches Kluber as Giants Beat Indians 5-2 — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner outpitched AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, and the San Francisco Giants completed their Arizona portion of the exhibition season by beating the Cleveland Indians 5-2 Wednesday.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Let's Go Tribe
Associated Press:
Garcia Homers, Abreu Has 2 More Hits for White Sox in Win — PEORIA, Ariz. — Avisail Garcia homered among his three hits and drove in four runs, Jose Abreu added to his sizzling spring training with two more hits and a Chicago White Sox split squad beat the Seattle Mariners 12-4 on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Patrick Saunders / On the Rox:
Rockies' Kendrick so-so, but Tulowitzki and Gonzalez break out — TOPICS — Scottsdale, Ariz. — Kyle Kendrick's real Rockies debut is just five days away. That's when he'll step on the mound at Milwaukee's Miller Park on Monday for opening day of the 2015 season.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Purple Row
USA Today:
AL regular season preview: Fearless predictions — Who's winning the American League pennant? Throw a dart. It's wide open in the AL, but that doesn't stop USA TODAY Sports' baseball staff from breaking down what to expect from April through October: — A new season places all 30 teams and every player at an even playing field.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Seattle Mariners blog
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox's Betts drawing (really) big-name comparisons
Red Sox's Betts drawing (really) big-name comparisons
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Over the Monster, NESN.com, BostonGlobe.com and providencejournal.com
Associated Press:
Utley Hits 2 Home Runs in Phillies' 9-2 Win — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Chase Utley hit two homers to give him long balls in four straight at-bats, Cole Hamels pitched six innings in his final start before opening day and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 9-2 Wednesday.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Yahoo Sports
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — JOHN AXFORD'S SON MUCH IMPROVED AFTER SNAKE BITE — The Denver Post — The 2-year-old son of Rockies reliever John Axford was bit by a rattlesnake in Arizona. (John Leyba, The Denver Post) … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies reliever John Axford said his 2-year-old son …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Nick Groke / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Purple Row and Sporting News Feed RSS
Associated Press:
Marlins Reliever Aaron Crow Needs Tommy John Surgery — JUPITER, Fla. — Doctors have told Miami reliever Aaron Crow he needs season-ending elbow ligament-replacement surgery. — Crow will get a second opinion but expects to have the procedure. — “That's a big blow for him,” manager Mike Redmond said Wednesday.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Michael Hurcomb / CBSSports.com:
Marlins SP Jarred Cosart: ‘Never have, never will bet on baseball’ — Marlins starting pitcher Jarred Cosart said Wednesday it is up to commissioner Rob Manfred to make a decision regarding the league's investigation into Cosart's alleged gambling ties, per FOX Sports Florida.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com