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:
The Athletic, USA Today, NBCSports.com, Union-News, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
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:
MLB Baseball News …
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:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Houston Astros on Yahoo! … and Sportsnet.ca
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
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:
Pinstripe Alley and MLB Baseball News …
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.
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 …
RELATED:
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:
The Good Phight
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:
Talking Chop, Phillies Nation and MLB Baseball News …
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
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:
NESN.com
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 Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and Phillies Nation
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 …
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
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
New York Mets' Dellin Betances starts new chapter in same city — If there was one point in time when New York's own Dellin Betances made it clear that he was in Major League Baseball to stay, it was on May 15, 2014 at Citi Field. As a 26-year-old reliever for the New York Yankees …