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:
Federal Baseball, Yahoo Sports, Union-News, Boston Herald, Over the Monster and NESN.com
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
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Peter Bourjos debuts with a bang for Rays — PORT CHARLOTTE — On his first day as a Ray, OF Peter Bourjos made a leaping catch at the centerfield wall, had three hits — including a two-run homer — and three RBIs. — “You always want to make a good first impression,” Bourjos said.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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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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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Mets' Jeurys Familia suspended 15 games for domestic violence incident
Mets' Jeurys Familia suspended 15 games for domestic violence incident
Discussion:
New York Post, baseballmusings.com, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo Sports and NESN.com
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
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
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
Fox Sports:
Swarm of bees makes silly baseball-playing humans dive for cover — In the surest sign yet that it's high time for Opening Day, we present this bee invasion that happened in Thursday's Spring Training game between the Rockies and Padres. — With the Rockies up handily and everyone …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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.
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Cardinals could be sleeper for Quintana — Word is, the Chicago White Sox believe the perceived favorites Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates have been largely “passive” in their pursuits of Jose Quintana. If that's the case, someone else such as the St. Louis Cardinals could sneak in and grab Quintana.
Discussion:
NESN.com and Bleacher Nation