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9:05 AM ET, February 16, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Rotoworld.com:
Lowdown: Straight Cash-ner  —  Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @Crawford_Milb on Twitter.  —  The trickle down effect has begun.  Or so we hope.  —  Just about a week after the Cubs brought in Yu Darvish, we saw two free-agent hurlers put their name to paper on Thursday with Andrew Cashner signing …
Discussion: Over the Monster
RELATED:
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Chris Sale, Red Sox teammates confident in team's current roster
Reuters:   Red Sox's Betts, Bogaerts admit clubhouse tension in 2017
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:   Mookie Betts: “No hard feelings” over arbitration hearing
Associated Press:
Indians taking ‘long view’ with Danny Salazar's shoulder recovery  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Indians pitcher Danny Salazar is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season, another early blow to the team following the death of manager Terry Francona's father.
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:   Danny Salazar already ‘couple weeks behind’ Cleveland Indians pitchers because of injury
WKYC-TV:   6 members of Cleveland Indians make Sports Illustrated's Top 100 MLB players of 2018
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
MLB stock watch: From superteams to enemies of Boras, here's where all 30 teams stand  —  Baseball has sprung in the warmer regions of our land, even while those of us in the north continue to face days of snow, fog and bitterness.  For eons, writers have written about how the onset …
RELATED:
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Scott Boras remains patient, but he and his free agents are really testing the limit  —  TAMPA — It's three days into spring training, with full squads reporting in five days — does Scott Boras know where his free agents' teams are?  —  Baseball's Avenging Agent is accustomed to playing the waiting game …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
The Dark Knight may never return, but Mets don't need Matt Harvey to be a superhero  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets don't need another hero.  Mickey Callaway just wants Matt Harvey — and the rest of the starting staff — to be accountable on and off the field.
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:   Two potential pitching bargains the Mets are interested in
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets starter Matt Harvey looking to rebound after two rough seasons
Discussion: NorthJersey.com
Associated Press:
Garcia gets $10 million for one year from Toronto  —  Lefthander Jaime Garcia and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract that includes a 2019 team option.  —  Garcia gets $8 million this year as part of the deal announced Thursday and Toronto has a $10 million option with a $2 million buyout.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Toronto signs veteran left-hander Jaime Garcia to 1-year deal
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Sign Jaime Garcia
Associated Press:
Zack Greinke: ‘Wish every park was neutral’ so humidor not needed  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke is beginning his third season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and this time he will be throwing home games with baseballs that have been stored in a humidor.
Discussion: ESPN
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks at spring-training practice
Associated Press:
Reds void Manship's contract, add Pennington on minor-league deal  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds voided the minor league contract of right-handed reliever Jeff Manship on Thursday after he failed to pass a physical and they agreed to a minor league deal with former Los Angeles Angels infielder Cliff Pennington.
Discussion: Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Catcher Devin Mesoraco is a realist
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:   Padres sign catcher A.J. Ellis to minor league deal
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Ron Gardenhire's office at Joker Marchant Stadium is beginning to feel like home.  On the second day of spring training, a number of papers hung on a previously blank bulletin board.  On his desk, notes were scattered around.  His cigar humidor was on its way.
Discussion: CBS Detroit
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers' closer's role Shane Greene's to lose, Ron Gardenhire says
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Leone may ease Bowman's load  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Matt Bowman was the most-often employed Cardinals reliever with men on base last year, entering with 50 men on base and allowing just 15 to score, or 30 percent.  —  With the acquisition last month …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Don't bring up ‘mediocre’ to Cardinals' Wainwright
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
A breakdown of Yu Darvish's 6 pitches — their effectiveness and usage  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Justin Grimm can validate Yu Darvish's wide array of pitches.  —  “I'm sure he has eight but only throws six,” said Grimm, who became reunited with Darvish with the Cubs after playing with him in 2012-13 with Rangers.
Pete Caldera / USA Today:
CC Sabathia is at the center of Yankees Universe  —  TAMPA, Fla. - These days, the center of Yankees Universe is generally located at CC Sabathia's locker.  —  From his corner space at Steinbrenner Field, Sabathia dispenses pitching advice and shares a career's worth of learned experience to anyone who inquires.
Discussion: Daily Record
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   It would take a lot for Chad Green not to fill same relief role with Yankees this season
Associated Press:
Dodgers confident Koehler will help fill bullpen void  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Dodgers are confident the free-agent acquisition of Tom Koehler will help fill a bullpen void left by Brandon Morrow's jump to the Chicago Cubs.  —  For Koehler, it's a move that represents a transition …
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
The secret to Michael Kopech's success?  Meditation  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Michael Kopech is one of the more zen White Sox prospects.  —  The fire-balling right-hander said that he uses meditation to stay on an even keel while he works his way toward the major-leagues as the Sox's top pitching prospect.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Kirk Gibson to throw out first pitch for Dodgers on opening day  —  The Dodgers were one victory last fall from preempting the following sentence: It has been 30 years since the Dodgers last won the World Series.  —  But a championship always is worth celebrating, and so the Dodgers announced Thursday …
Discussion: True Blue LA
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Arte Moreno says Angels are ‘thinking about’ an extension for Mike Trout, but there's no urgency  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — After watching Shohei Ohtani go through his first bullpen session with the Angels, Arte Moreno confronted a question about his other star.  —  Mike Trout has three years left …
Discussion: Halos Heaven
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Noah Syndergaard misses old coach, but new guy is ‘amazing’  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Noah Syndergaard lobbied for the incumbent pitching coach to return to the Mets last offseason, but quickly has come to respect the new one.  —  As Dan Warthen was nearing the conclusion of his tenure with the Mets in October …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
 
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 More News: 
The Charlotte Observer:
Potential new bidder for Panthers is wealthy SC businessman, sources say
Jim Owczarski / USA Today:
Bengals QB AJ McCarron wins grievance, becomes a free agent
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Jim Thome reflects on Hall of Fame career, White Sox memories
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Photos: The Braves at spring training
ESPN:
Rob Manfred: Player input ‘significantly altered’ MLB's positions
Discussion: MLB Baseball News … and NESN.com
 Earlier Picks: 
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Notes: Back in Brewers uniform, Yovani Gallardo looks forward to challenge of making club
Discussion: JSOnline
Steve Serby / New York Post:
Baker Mayfield talks NYC love, and why he's top QB in NFL draft
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
‘Ready to erase’ last year, Duffy wants to be a role model for his Royals teammates
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Salvador Perez, baseball's most durable catcher, has a goal: Better health
Discussion: Royals Review
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
Facing a brimming free agent pool at spring training's start, MLBPA boss decries owners' ‘excuses’
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' bullpen dancing among new Chicago-related features in ‘MLB The Show 18’
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
 

 
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TMZ.com:
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