Top News:
Julian McWilliams Globe / The Boston Globe:
Matt Andriese eager to learn with, show what he can do for Red Sox — For newly acquired righthander Matt Andriese, arriving in Fort Myers, Fla., for a fresh start with the Red Sox comes with elation. Or relief. — After what seemed like an endless kerfuffle between …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
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Peter Abraham Globe / The Boston Globe:
Today's game strikes out with David Ortiz — David Ortiz loves baseball. But he has grown to dislike the way the game is being played now. — “To me it's messed up,” Big Papi said during a lengthy conversation from his home in Miami. “The game has changed a lot.
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Union-News, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Shams Charania / The Athletic:
NBA trade news: Andre Drummond to Raptors coming? Lonzo Ball interest and more — As the NBA's trade deadline nears, NBA team executives have noticed a somewhat abnormal trade market over the past few weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic impacting the league and positive cases …
Discussion:
New York Post, NetsDaily, Bleacher Nation, Hoops Rumors, Peachtree Hoops, Raptors HQ, DraftKings Nation and Blazer's Edge
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Dollars and years are disappearing from MLB free agents — As negotiations between MLB players and owners reached their apex last summer, the union held together strongly, with Max Scherzer and Jack Flaherty and others taking to social media to collectively reflect the group's insistence on 100% pay.
Discussion:
Cubs Insider and Talking Chop
Shayna Rubin / Mercury News:
Q&A: Oakland A's farm director on prospects to watch and state of the farm — Oakland Athletics' farm director Ed Sprague talks MILB season as spring training approaches — The Oakland A's farm is in a bit of a rut. With most of its top prospects graduating to the big leagues and a lost year …
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NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Oakland Athletics bolster bullpen, reach agreements with Yusmeiro Petit, Sergio Romo — OAKLAND, Calif. — Veteran reliever Yusmeiro Petit has agreed to a $2.55 million, one-year contract to stay with the Oakland Athletics, pending a physical, his agent said.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Keith Law / The Athletic:
A's 2021 prospect rankings: Keith Law on Oakland's top 20 — The A's contend year-in and year-out without the benefit of a great farm system, boosting the team through trades and some smart finds on waivers or in the low end of free agency, along with the very occasional Matt Chapman.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Here is the 2021 All-Underrated Team — It is time for the most underrated baseball column of the year — the 2021 All-Underrated Team. — But what does it mean to be underrated, anyway? — In years past, we've filled out this team with guys who have never been All-Stars …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Justin Toscano / NorthJersey.com:
Will NY Mets extend Michael Conforto and Francisco Lindor? Acting GM Zack Scott weighs in — In this COVID-19 era, Zack Scott still has not met his bosses, Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson, in person. He's excited to see new faces in Port St. Lucie during spring training, “if I can actually recognize anybody with their masks on.”
Sam Amick / The Athletic:
NBA Trade Talk: Nuggets, Hawks and Kings could sway this year's trade deadline — Everybody can't be buyers. — It's one thing to have an imbalanced market, with more NBA teams looking to improve in the short term than there are organizations taking the long view.
Discussion:
Liberty Ballers, Hoops Rumors, NetsDaily, Sactown Royalty, Bleacher Nation, Peachtree Hoops and Sports Illustrated
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
All 120 Teams Sign PDLs, Completing MiLB's Most Significant Change In A Century — The new structure of minor league baseball is now official. — As of Feb. 12, Major League Baseball has received all 120 signed Professional Development Licenses (PDLs). That means every team it invited …
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Fish Stripes, MiLB.com, NBCSports.com, Bluebird Banter and Bleacher Nation
Baseball Hall of Fame:
Hall of Fame Event Updates — (COOPERSTOWN, NY) - Due to the ongoing safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum today provided updates regarding its annual signature events: Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, which takes place over Memorial Day Weekend …
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FanGraphs Baseball, Purple Row, Pinstripe Alley, True Blue LA and Bleed Cubbie Blue