Top News:
Chris Bahr / Fox Sports:
Rougned Odor gets 6 years and 2 horses in contract extension with Rangers — The Texas Rangers made their six-year, $49.5 million extension with second baseman Rougned Odor official Thursday. And a previously unreported contract perk was revealed in the process: The Rangers sealed the deal by including a couple of horses.
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Fox Business, Camden Chat, USA Today, NESN.com and Yahoo Sports
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' extension with Odor completed — The Texas Rangers' contract extension with second baseman Rougned Odor has been completed, and the deal will be announced Thursday afternoon. — A baseball source said that the deal is for six year and $49.5 million, as previously reported …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Notes: Pagan, Cabrera, Offseason, Albies, Prospects — The Braves are still interested in free agent outfielder Angel Pagan, reports Jim Bowedn of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, citing a club source (Twitter link). Atlanta has been tied to Pagan at various points this offseason.
Discussion:
myajc and Talking Chop
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
For the Atlanta Braves, a Housewarming Present for the Future — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — From their golf cart last week, in a plaza beyond center field at the Atlanta Braves' spring training complex, John Hart and John Coppolella could watch two minor league exhibition games at once.
Discussion:
Fox Sports and Talking Chop
David Lennon / Newsday:
AL East preview 2017: Boston Red Sox should have enough to win again — Let's get this straight. The Red Sox spend $217 million for a No. 1 starter by signing David Price a year ago, then turn around and empty the farm system, Dave Dombrowski-style, for another No. 1, Chris Sale, over the winter.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Union-News, Federal Baseball, Boston Herald, Over the Monster and NESN.com
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon hasn't gone ‘crazy’ about Hector Rondon — Cubs manager Joe Maddon on relief pitcher Hector Rondon's struggles. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — As pitching coach Chris Bosio was working on ways to fix Hector Rondon in the Minute Maid Park visitors' bullpen …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
Clark Spencer / miamiherald:
Ichiro can't fathom retirement: 'I think I'll just die' — JUPITER — Ichiro Suzuki doesn't believe in vacations. — The last time he took one — 2004 or '05, he doesn't recall which — was a week-long trip to Milan, Italy. He worked out pretty much the entire time and said the excursion threw …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, Bless You Boys, Major League Baseball, NBCSports.com, Fox Sports, NESN.com, Baseball Is Fun and Cubs Insider
Michael Baumann / The Ringer:
The Best Player in Baseball Doesn't Want to Be a Superstar — Mike Trout is every bit as good as modern sports icons like LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Tom Brady, so why isn't he as famous? He just wants to be liked. — big league clubhouse during pregame media availability can be a lonely place.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, Los Angeles Times, NBCSports.com, FanGraphs Baseball and Halos Heaven
Art Stapleton / NorthJersey.com:
McAdoo checking out Texas Tech QB Mahomes — The Giants are debating louder internally than they have in a while about finding a quarterback to eventually succeed Eli Manning. — Another sign of that strong consideration revealed itself Friday when Giants coach Ben McAdoo attended the Texas Tech Pro Day …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and FanRag Sports
Tampa Bay Times:
Saving the day? Rays go with catchers Derek Norris and Jesus Sucre — PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays went into the offseason seeking to improve a catching corps that has seemed perpetually in need of an upgrade since — save for a brief flash from Dioner Navarro — the halcyon days of Toby Hall and John Flaherty.
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Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Peter Bourjos debuts with a bang for Rays
Peter Bourjos debuts with a bang for Rays
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and DRaysBay
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Could a new hitting coach, approach ignite Steven Souza Jr.? — PORT CHARLOTTE — When this season is over and Steven Souza Jr., is back home in Seattle with his wife, Mikaela, and his son, Micah, making up rap songs on the fly to make his boy laugh, he hopes to look back on 2017 and see this:
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Mets GM Sandy Alderson has fulfilled plenty of promises, but still in search of title — Five years ago, before all the injuries interrupted a superb career, David Wright wanted answers from the new GM as the Mets captain pondered his future with the Mets at a time when the franchise was a mess.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Name Blake Treinen Closer — Nationals manager Dusty Baker said today that righty Blake Treinen will take the team's closer role to open the season, as Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post was among those to report on Twitter. He won a camp battle with young righty Koda Glover …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, FanRag Sports and CBS DC
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets closer Jeurys Familia suspended 15 games for violating MLB domestic violence policy — Jeurys Familia has been suspended 15 games for violating baseball's policy on domestic violence, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday. — Familia, the Mets' All-Star closer …
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Billy Witz / New York Times:
Mets' Jeurys Familia Is Suspended for 15 Games
Mets' Jeurys Familia Is Suspended for 15 Games
Discussion:
Forbes and FanRag Sports