Top News:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's Mike Fiers says he's received death threats, plans to keep Astros ring — MESA, Ariz. — Mike Fiers acknowledged Thursday that he has received threats of physical violence since his public comments ignited MLB's investigation into the Astros' cheating scandal, but he's not overly concerned.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, The Athletic, Union-News, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and New York Post
RELATED:
ESPN:
Pennsylvania Little League district to drop ‘Astros’ — Just 60 miles east of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, one Little League director is sending a clear message to his 4,000 players about the Houston Astros and their sign stealing. — Jose Altuve? Alex Bregman? Carlos Correa? They're all out.
Discussion:
Slate, MLB Baseball News … and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Rob Manfred apologizes for calling World Series trophy a ‘piece of metal’
Rob Manfred apologizes for calling World Series trophy a ‘piece of metal’
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Pinstripe Alley, Houston Astros on Yahoo! … and Sportsnet.ca
Associated Press:
Manfred apologizes for calling WS trophy a “piece of metal”
Manfred apologizes for calling WS trophy a “piece of metal”
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Denver Post and Royals Review
Bradford William Davis / New York Daily News:
MLBPA disputes Rob Manfred's claims of player non-cooperation in Astros sign-stealing probe
MLBPA disputes Rob Manfred's claims of player non-cooperation in Astros sign-stealing probe
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, baseballmusings.com and New York Post
Associated Press:
Hector Neris, Phillies agree to $4.6M deal, avoid arbitration hearing — PHOENIX — Reliever Hector Neris avoided a salary arbitration hearing with the Philadelphia Phillies by agreeing to a $4.6 million, one-year contract. — The deal reached Thursday night includes a $7 million team option for 2021 with no buyout.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Win Arbitration Hearing Against J.T. Realmuto — The Phillies won their arbitration hearing against catcher J.T. Realmuto, tweets MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. He'll earn the $10MM salary figure the team submitted for his final season of club control.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Talking Chop and Phillies Nation
MLB Trade Rumors:
Luis Severino Shut Down Due To Forearm Discomfort — In yet another bit of troubling injury news for Yankees fans, manager Aaron Boone revealed Thursday that right-hander Luis Severino is experiencing forearm soreness that dates all the way back to his final ALCS appearance in 2019 (Twitter links via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch).
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
Yankees shut down Luis Severino with forearm soreness — TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees seem to have picked up where they left off last season on the injury front, with pitcher Luis Severino joining the list of players dealing with ailments this spring training.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper has no regrets entering Year 2 with Phillies: ‘Just so happy to be here’ — CLEARWATER, Fla. — There were no TV trucks with reporters breathlessly filming his arrival. — There weren't throngs of fans screaming at the first sight of him. — Oh, how life has changed at Philadelphia Phillies spring training camp.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, New York Post and NESN.com
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Rick Porcello is focused on having tunnel vision this year, starting with his Mets debut — PORT ST. LUCIE — Rick Porcello doesn't have to wait long to show the Mets that he's moved past his miserable 2019 campaign. — The Mets have slotted the free agent acquisition to open …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
‘Field of Dreams’ movie site off limits to fans in week leading into New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox game — If you're hoping to visit the Field of Dreams movie site the week of Major League Baseball's game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, well, you better have a ticket.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times
Nate Ulrich / Record-Courier:
Browns: Van Pelt to change Baker Mayfield's footwork — “I want the feet to be like Mozart and not like Metallica,” said new Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. — BEREA — More classical. Less heavy metal. — New Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt revealed Wednesday he'll change …
Discussion:
New York Post and ProFootballTalk
Matt Loede / Sports Illustrated:
Do the Cleveland Indians Have a Cy Young “Darkhorse” in Their 2020 Starting Rotation? — As the Cleveland Indians embark on the 2020 season, the overwhelming notion is that again the strong point of the roster is the team's starting pitching. — Even with the early spring training injury …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Bryant becomes Cubs' newest leadoff hitter — MESA, Ariz. — After Kris Bryant wrapped up his opening press conference of the spring, a discussion that lasted more than a half-hour with Chicago media on Saturday morning, the slugger headed back into the clubhouse. — Bryant was then greeted by manager David Ross.
Discussion:
Cubs News and NBCSports.com
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times:
After meeting with Theo Epstein, Kris Bryant expects to remain a Cub all season
After meeting with Theo Epstein, Kris Bryant expects to remain a Cub all season
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News … and Phillies Nation
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Will it be Wong or Edman? Fowler or Carp? Cardinals begin search for their leading man — JUPITER, Fla. — For all the rhetoric expended and hands wrung over the Cardinals' lack of a veteran cleanup man to drive in runs, the issue of who might be scoring those runs sometimes is overlooked.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com