Top News:
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers take it on the chin from familiar faces and Team Venezuela — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — If there's a silver lining, a couple of the opponents hitters had good days and that's good for the Rangers in the long run. Rougned Odor and Robinson Chirinos each had singles in Team Venezuela's 6-4 win …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers shut down Cashner after setback — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Right-hander Andrew Cashner had a setback with the soreness in is right biceps and is becoming increasingly likely to open the season on the disabled list. — The former TCU star and native Texan was shut down by the Texas Rangers medical staff for at least a few days.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Lone Star Ball and Yahoo Sports
Tampa Bay Times:
Rays' Kevin Cash will cringe through Chris Archer's WBC work. Should you? — PORT CHARLOTTE — Chris Archer knows, or thinks he knows, a lot of things. And he's typically not bashful about sharing. — There he was again Tuesday, suggesting during a Team USA media event in Fort Myers …
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Oliver Macklin / MLB.com:
Dutch walk off vs. Taipei, advance to Round 2 — Dutch center fielder Jurickson Profar drew a bases-loaded walk to help the Netherlands complete a wild late-inning comeback and punch a ticket to the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a 6-5 win over Chinese Taipei at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul …
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KTVU-TV:
Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith detained in San Francisco — SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) — Suspended Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith was detained Thursday morning in San Francisco after a vehicle he was a passenger in collided with a San Francisco police car near police headquarters, authorities said.
Discussion:
Niners Wire, FanRag Sports and East Bay Times
Washington Post:
Redskins fire GM Scot McCloughan after two seasons — After weeks of speculation, the Washington Redskins fired General Manager Scot McCloughan on Thursday, a little more than two years into a four-year contract. — The decision was announced by team President Bruce Allen …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, The Big Lead, FanRag Sports, Niners Wire and NESN.com
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Cubs' Kris Bryant makes history with 2017 salary — A source close to the situation has informed FanRag Sports that Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has signed a $1.05 million contract for the upcoming 2017 season, a record for a second-year player. — Bryant has now surpassed …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, NBCSports.com, Pirates Breakdown, MLB Trade Rumors, OutsidePitchMLB and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Why Max Scherzer is a true rarity among baseball's best pitchers — WEST PALM BEACH, Fl. — Uh, wasn't Max Scherzer supposed to break down, like, 10 years ago? — Oh, I know Scherzer currently is dealing with a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger, which might delay the start of his season.
Fox Sports:
A's lose Gray for a while, Rangers shut down Cashner — Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray will begin the season on the disabled list with a lat strain and has been shut down from throwing for the next three weeks. — A's general manager David Forst said Thursday there's no timetable …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Tim Gannon / Suffolk Times:
Orient resident, MLB 20-game winner Bill Hands dies at 76 — Longtime Orient resident and former Major League 20-game winner William Hands Jr. died Thursday in Florida. — The former Chicago Cubs pitcher and longtime owner of the Orient Service Station on Main Road was 76 years old.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals, Pirates set to play in the ‘MLB Little League Classic’ — JUPITER, Fla. • Depending on the way the rotation turns, Cardinals righthander Lance Lynn could become the first Little League World Series alum to return to Williamsport, Pa., and start a game as a big-leaguer.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
World Series raise makes Cubs' Maddon highest-paid manager — Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon's $25-million, five-year contract got a little bit better with the World Series win. — Sources told FanRag Sports his salary escalated from $5 million to $6 million each of the last three years …
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation and CBS Chicago