Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals bringing back ‘biggest arm in camp’ for Grapefruit debut — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals expected everything about Jordan Hicks' spring training to be quick — his fastball, his rise, his athleticism — everything except for his exit. — The pitcher who manager Mike Matheny referred …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Kelly ready to prove his point in Memphis — • Carson Kelly, who rarely dodges a media request, was reported to have nothing to say late Sunday afternoon after being told he was being sent to Class AAA Memphis after a three-for-30 spring. — “I didn't want to go crazy,” …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: Waino dominates Mets (minor leaguers); Reyes raring to go
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No closer is no problem so far for Cardinals
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Revived Gerrit Cole enjoying fresh slate with Houston Astros — SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs. Recent history suggests otherwise. USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When agent Scott Boras met with Gerrit Cole for lunch recently …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Is ‘bullpenning’ MLB's best path to 27 outs - or a gateway to ‘mediocrity’? — Finding the best path to 27 outs is perhaps baseball's most evolving and enduring puzzle. Yet in many quarters, a permanent solution appears at hand. — “Some form of bullpenning,” Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto …
Eduardo A. Encina / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Orioles, right-hander Alex Cobb agree to four-year deal — SARASOTA, Fla. — With fewer than 10 days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles are nearing their biggest upgrade of the offseason: a deal with former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, according to an industry source.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
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Adam Wells / Bleacher Report:
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Camden Chat, MLB Trade Rumors, Camden Depot, DRaysBay and Lone Star Ball
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles nearing deal with Alex Cobb (final update)
Orioles nearing deal with Alex Cobb (final update)
Discussion:
Orioles Hangout and baseballmusings.com
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Is this the Yankees 25-man roster that will break camp? — TAMPA, Fla. - There wasn't a whole lot of drama with the Yankees' roster this spring. — The starting pitching was a given; there wasn't even a battle for the No. 5 spot, and the bullpen spots were relatively known.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Where else Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton cash could've gone
Where else Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton cash could've gone
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and New Jersey Online
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Boone's opening day Yankees lineup will be seasoned by analytics
Aaron Boone's opening day Yankees lineup will be seasoned by analytics
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series — The recent trend has been for the Mets to start the season with a division foe, but they will instead face the Cardinals next Thursday when the season opens. — While that pairing is certainly an intriguing matchup …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Jose M. Romero / Associated Press:
Brewers — including Hank as The Beast — re-enact ‘The Sandlot’ in video — Even before the start of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have their first hit. — Milwaukee released a 2-minute, 35-second video celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie “The Sandlot” last weekend …
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Seung Hwan Oh gets work visa, to make Blue Jays debut — DUNEDIN — With the red tape out of the way, Seung Hwan Oh is finally ready to make his Blue Jays debut on Wednesday afternoon. — Actually, the South Korean right-hander has been ready for a couple of weeks, but without a work visa …
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Alex Butler / UPI:
Russell Martin makes great catch, gets smacked in face by pole
Russell Martin makes great catch, gets smacked in face by pole
Discussion:
The Good Phight, The Comeback and USA Today
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen dealing with injury — Reds right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen struggled in his second start of spring training Thursday against the Chicago White Sox The Enquirer/Adam Baum — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Right-hander Michael Lorenzen's quest to make the starting rotation is probably over.
Discussion:
Red Reporter and redsminorleagues.com
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Tim KeownESPN Senior / ESPN:
The Dominant 20: Bonds refused to be less than the best — WHENEVER I THINK of Barry Bonds — his dominance, his flaws, his legacy — the first image that appears in my mind is Dennis the limo driver. Dennis burst onto the scene in spring 1993, Bonds' first season with the Giants …
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Commentary: After bold, bland and cool, the Nationals' new manager says let's have fun — The Washington Post — The Washington Nationals have had a brash, audacious manger, Davey Johnson, who said, “World Series or Bust.” They tried a bland middle-manager, Matt Williams, who pasted sampler slogans on the wall.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs narrowing roster options as bullpen watch resumes — Chicago Tribune — With only five days left in Arizona, the Cubs are narrowing their roster options. — Relievers Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr., each assured spots, are scheduled to follow Yu Darvish on Wednesday …
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers — FORT MYERS, Fla. -Unable to find a suitable trade offer for Kennys Vargas, the Twins' have placed the switch-hitting slugger on waivers, according to a person with direct knowledge. — Designated for release or assignment on March 16, Vargas' 48-hour waiver period started on Tuesday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and DRaysBay
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' pitching prospect Matt Manning out with injury — LAKELAND, Fla. — Another Tigers top prospect is out for the foreseeable future. — The team announced Wednesday that right-hander Matt Manning has been diagnosed with a “low-level” oblique strain.
Courier-Journal:
Fantasy Baseball: A dozen sleepers you can draft in the late rounds to make a difference — So we are well into fantasy baseball draft season, and there are plenty of articles out there advising you on what to do in the opening rounds to shape your team. — This is not one of them.
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Where is Nationals reliever Koda Glover? … WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As the final days of spring training slide by, and necessary decisions about bullpen personnel slide nearer, Koda Glover remains momentarily irrelevant. Once considered the Nationals' future closer, more recently considered …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees' plan to help Gary Sanchez limit mound visits revealed — Last Thursday, Gary Sanchez used a wristband during a spring training game for the first time. — It was a concept the Yankees discussed last year in an attempt to offset sign-stealing and limit the number of times Sanchez …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com