Top News:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Cora, Lowell being checked out — The phones are ringing in Pawtucket. — With Mike Lowell sustaining a thumb injury last night, and Alex Cora feeling a “twinge,” according to Terry Francona, the call has gone out to the PawSox to make sure a player is ready in case they need him.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Lowell exits with sprained left thumb
Lowell exits with sprained left thumb
Discussion:
Associated Press, Boston Globe, Unfiltered, Fox Sports, Over the Monster, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn and The Joy of Sox
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Harden lands on disabled list — Oft-injured righty sidelined by strained muscle in shoulder — TORONTO — For the sixth time in less than four seasons Athletics starting pitcher Rich Harden has landed on the disabled list. — Oakland placed the hard-throwing right-hander on the 15 …
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Associated Press:
A's Harden lands on DL for 6th time in last 4 years — TORONTO — The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, retroactive to April 3, and recalled right-hander Joey Devine from Triple-A Sacramento. — Harden, 1-0 with an 0.82 ERA in two starts …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Jimmy Rollins sits out with sprained ankle — NEW YORK - The New York Mets couldn't have been happier to hear that Jimmy Rollins could not play last night at Shea Stadium. — In case you hadn't noticed, they hadn't exactly had much success against him lately.
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Zach / Phillies:
ROLLINS OUT, KLINE IN — 1. Jimmy Rollins is watching batting practice with hitting coach Milt Thompson. After doing some early stretching, he determined his sprained left ankle still isn't feeling better enough for him to resume playing. So, for a second straight game, Rollins will watch from the dugout.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Injured Rays — Cliff Floyd (40 DXL) — If the Trop didn't have a dome, I think Joe Maddon might be looking to the heavens, waiting for frogs to fall from the sky. The latest victim of the injury streak is Cliff Floyd. Now, it's no stunner that Floyd is injured …
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Associated Press:
Vargas accepts minor league contract with Mets — NEW YORK (AP) — Claudio Vargas and the Mets agreed to a minor league contract Thursday, giving New York another option for its injury-riddled rotation. — Vargas was released by Milwaukee late in spring training after going 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA …
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MLB.com:
New York Yankees announce new titles for members of the Steinbrenner family — Today the New York Yankees announced new titles for members of the Steinbrenner family. — George M. Steinbrenner, III Chairperson, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner Co-Chairpersons, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal …
ESPN:
Indians sign pitcher (not C.C.) to multiyear deal — CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona, a surprising 19-game winner last season, agreed Thursday to a $15 million, four-year contract with the Indians, a deal that would be worth at least $43 million if Cleveland exercises three club options.
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Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Digital Age brings challenges to players — Rise of Internet forces ballplayers to guard private lives — Most big league ballplayers, if not all of them, understand that they're public figures. An increasingly high number of them, however, are being forced into an increasingly private existence.
Discussion:
The Bronx Stop
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Rangers take two from O's — Texas ends O's six-game winning streak; Orioles manage just three hits against Texas' Millwood in Game 1 — ARLINGTON, Texas - Ian Kinsler hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Orioles 5-4 Thursday night to complete a doubleheader sweep.
The Professor / Rays Index:
[MATT GARZA] Rays Could Seek Compensation If Twins Hid Garza's Injury — Rays Could Seek Compensation If Twins Hid Garza's Injury — On Monday night, during the Tampa Bay Rays' home opener, Matt Garza pulled himself from the game in the 3rd inning with an injury to the radial nerve in this throwing arm.
Bob Cuomo / Los Angeles Times:
Evan Longoria hoping for a short stay in Durham — Southern California has produced more than its share of major league players. In this space, we'll take a look at how Southland players are faring in the minors. This week: the triple-A International — One of the Tampa Bay Rays' final …
Discussion:
Associated Press
USA Today:
Big Floridian bashes homers, weighs options — Eric Hosmer knows how to deal with pressure. At his baseball games, pro scouts — 20, sometimes more — arrive two hours before game time to watch Hosmer, a senior at American Heritage School (Plantation, Fla.), take batting and infield practice.
Discussion:
ShysterBall