Top News:
The Athletic:
Meet Mason Saunders, the secret rodeo identity of Madison Bumgarner — The picture is a bit blurry. — The photo is of two men standing in front of a backdrop featuring the logo of Rancho Rio Arena in Wickenburg, Ariz. They've just won $26,560 in a team-roping rodeo competition …
Keith Law / The Athletic:
Keith Law's Top 100 prospects for 2020 — Welcome to this year's ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. I've been compiling and writing such rankings for 13 years now, and those of you who've read them before will find the format here similar to those from the recent past.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Free Agent Market Still Stocked With Well-Known Players — As we all know, past performance — especially, long-past performance — is no guarantee of more in the future. Teams are looking at more than Baseball-Reference career totals. That said, track record does generally reflect a high degree of skill.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Some first-game adventures for Rays, Pete Fairbanks — Loss to Red Sox comes down to suspenseful final out; relief candidate got into and out of jams. — FORT MYERS — The Rays' first spring training game took a couple of interesting turns. — Especially at the end …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Vinnie Duber / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Yasmani Grandal hard at work molding pitching staff that drew him to White Sox — It should come as no surprise that Yasmani Grandal is already making a big impact, even in the early weeks of spring training. — After all, — his impact was being felt before anyone even showed up to Camelback Ranch.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
The Monday Baseball Column: The story behind why Alex Verdugo's debut is being delayed — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The first impressions have been hard to come by. Just snippets. — Alex Verdugo occasionally cruises through the Red Sox' clubhouse these days, distinguishing himself with the constant companion of music.
Discussion:
The Athletic, NESN.com and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Fans heckling Astros at spring opener get signs confiscated — MLB, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals — Fans hoping to heckle the sign-stealing Houston Astros at the team's spring opener were met with quite the coincidence. — They got their signs taken.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Beyond the Box Score and baseballmusings.com
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Patriots and agent for Tom Brady expected to meet in Indianapolis — INDIANAPOLIS — While there have been some conversations between the Patriots and Tom Brady, and or his agent, Don Yee, there hasn't been anything substantive with respect to a new contract for the Patriots quarterback.
Discussion:
New York Post and ProFootballTalk
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Eugenio Suárez will test his shoulder this week; Freddy Galvis delayed — GOODYEAR, Arizona - The next few days will be an important test for Eugenio Suárez as he recovers from right shoulder surgery last month. — Suárez is planning to throw and take two-handed swings for the first time.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Mike Foltynewicz, Mike Soroka will pitch later this week — The last two Braves All-Star pitchers, Mike Soroka and Mike Foltynewicz, will be making their spring debuts this week. — Foltynewicz will start Tuesday against the Twins. Soroka will pitch sometime later, according to manager Brian Snitker.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Union prefers Rays stay put but could approve Montreal plan — Tony Clark says “strong preference” is a full-time Tampa Bay stadium, but he adds it's not impossible the players union could agree to the sharing plan. — PORT CHARLOTTE — Baseball's players union would prefer the Rays find a full time …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
James Paxton still optimistic he'll be back in May — TAMPA — James Paxton is “optimistic” he could begin his throwing program in 10 days if his rehab continues to go smoothly. The Yankee left-hander had surgery to repair a disc in his lower back earlier this month and was projected to be rehabbing for three to four months.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online and MLB Trade Rumors