Top News:
Nick Cafardo / BostonGlobe.com:
Here are the Red Sox storylines entering spring training — Some of the stories won't be warranted, but every now and then the hype is real.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Daily Dish
Jeff Quinton / Baseball Prospectus:
Tools of Ignorance — Forget It, Jake — The Rockies have done some things the past eight months. They did a thing a couple weeks ago. Like most of the things the Rockies have done lately, trading four years of Corey Dickerson for two years of Jake McGee has caused much head-scratching.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Associated Press:
APNewsBreak: Arrieta, Cubs Agree at $10.7M, AP Source Says — CHICAGO — Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs found a number that worked in the canyon between their arbitration proposals. — Arrieta has agreed to a $10.7 million, one-year contract for the highest one-year deal for a pitcher eligible for arbitration for the second time.
Discussion:
Baseball Essential and NBCSports.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks consider shifting Yasmany Tomas to LF — The Diamondbacks are considering rearranging the alignment of their outfield, potentially having left fielder David Peralta and right fielder Yasmany Tomas trade places, manager Chip Hale said Friday. — “We're definitely talking about it,” Hale said.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, AZ Snake Pit and NBCSports.com
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Organizational report: Cole Hamels gives Rangers playoff look — Sports Weekly takes an in-depth look at each major league organization during the offseason, from the major leagues to the farm system. We start with teams with the worst records and move up.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News and Lone Star Ball
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Programmable Umpires — Via BBTF, computers are programming human umpires: … Humans have excellent pattern recognition skills, and incentives can make them even better. Robots, rather than calling the strike zone, are training the umpires to do a better job.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Beyond the Box Score
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The Cespedes gamble: The biggest MLB position-change risks — Starlin Castro, Yoenis Cespedes and Hanley Ramirez Photo: AP (2); Paul J. Bereswill — For much of this offseason, the Mets shied away from Yoenis Cespedes, in part, because they questioned if he was a full-time center fielder.
Discussion:
ESPN and Amazin' Avenue
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
Sterling, Waldman close to new 2-year deals with WFAN — John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling and Suzyn (Ma Pinstripe) Waldman look to be headed back to the Yankees WFAN radio booth for their 12th season together. — MLB sources say the voices have agreed in principle to new two-year deals.
Tampa Bay Times:
WANTED: New home for American League baseball team — ST. PETERSBURG — Major League Baseball's version of House Hunters premiered Thursday when the Tampa Bay Rays released a one-page wish list for what the club wants in a new stadium. — 4 Months Ago 4 Months Ago 6 Months Ago
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Christopher O'Donnell / TBO.com:
Rays, Hillsborough officials meet to discuss stadium search
Rays, Hillsborough officials meet to discuss stadium search
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, NBCSports.com, Let's Go Tribe and Ballpark Digest
Scott Broden / Tennessean.com:
David Price gives $300,000 for field for special-needs kids — MURFREESBORO — Major league pitcher David Price on Thursday celebrated fundraising efforts for a Miracle Field for disabled ball players by donating $300,000. — “It's special,” Price told several dozen people gathered …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and NESN.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
J.J. Hoover Wins Arbitration Hearing Against Reds — Right-hander J.J. Hoover has won his arbitration hearing against the Reds and will be awarded a $1.4MM salary as opposed to the $1.225MM figure submitted by Cincinnati, Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). The Ballengee Group client …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Red Reporter
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign David Aardsma To Minor League Deal — The Blue Jays announced that they have signed right-hander David Aardsma to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. — Aardsma, a client of TWC Sports, will look to force his way into a bullpen …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter