Top News:
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Kelly, Rizzo among 20 invited to Padres camp — Newly signed Frandsen angling for Opening Day roster spot — SAN DIEGO — Pitcher Casey Kelly and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, two of the players obtained from the Red Sox last month in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, are among the 20 non-roster players invited …
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Keppinger to undergo surgery on left foot
Keppinger to undergo surgery on left foot
Discussion:
HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Invite Delwyn Young To Spring Training
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Boras: Rafael Soriano open to setup — Free-agent closer Rafael Soriano led the majors in saves last year, but he would consider being a setup man for one team in baseball — the New York Yankees. — “That door is open for a number of different reasons,” Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, told ESPNNewYork.com.
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze, River Avenue Blues, MLB Daily Dish, Fanhouse MLB Blog, HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Bruce Levine / MLB:
Source: Reds to sign Edgar Renteria — The Cincinnati Reds will announce the signing of shortstop Edgar Renteria to a one-year contract Thursday afternoon, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. — The deal could be worth as much as $3 million with an incentive package.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds, baseballmusings.com, MLB Rumors, Red Reporter, HardballTalk, SBNation.com, Fanhouse MLB Blog and Red Hot Mama
Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
The Willie Mays Hall of Fame — Bob Costas said something on Wednesday that I've heard a lot of people say through the years, but because he's Bob Costas, and I think the world of the guy, his words inspired this post. Bob thinks that the Baseball Hall of Fame is too big.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Al's Ramblings
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Change will roll into the Hall, someday — Yesterday, Jim Caple wrote a perfectly cogent, clear-eyed look at the Hall of Fame electorate's tortured take on drugs. — In the wake of yesterday's BBWAA Hall of Fame voting results, a number of other cogent and clear-eyed pieces have been written …
Discussion:
THE BOOK, Baseball Insider, HardballTalk, Federal Baseball, Amazin' Avenue and The Platoon Advantage
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
The Hall of Fame gives voters a clear signal: moralize about steroids even more
The Hall of Fame gives voters a clear signal: moralize about steroids even more
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Crashburn Alley and It's About The Money
John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Fred McGriff at a disadvantage with Hall of Fame voters because …
Fred McGriff at a disadvantage with Hall of Fame voters because …
Discussion:
New York Times
Reuters:
Curveballer Bert Blyleven Recalls Life's Twists — NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bert Blyleven's best pitch as a major leaguer was a nose-to-toes curveball so it was perhaps no surprise that he travelled an unusual, roundabout way to Baseball's Hall of Fame. — Born in the Netherlands …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Rumors and Twinkie Town
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers to open season on ESPN vs. Yanks — DETROIT — The Tigers haven't had the honor of the first nationally televised game of the season in several years, but their Opening Day matchup at Yankee Stadium is going to change that. The 1:05 p.m. ET showdown with the Yankees on March 31 will kick off ESPN's Opening Day tripleheader.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Dan Rosenheck / Bats:
The Final Word on Kevin Brown — Hall of Fame voters have made plenty of boo-boos over the years. But we learned on Wednesday that the Baseball Writers' Association of America committed a great injustice. — Just 12 of the organization's 581 voters listed Kevin Brown's name on their ballots this year …
RELATED:
Tim Marchman / Improve Conditions:
Kevin Brown gets the call
Kevin Brown gets the call
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Can't Stop The Bleeding, HardballTalk and Sports Illustrated
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Top 11 Prospects — System in 20 Words or Less: Good drafts in the last two years and a few explosions move the Angels system up in a big way. — Five-Star Prospects — 1. Mike Trout, OF — 2. Jean Segura, 2B — Four-Star Prospects — 3. Jordan Walden, RHP
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Alex Speier / WEEI:
THE CAMERON EQUATION: HOW THE OUTFIELDER FITS THE 2011 RED SOX — Mike Cameron had a pair of noteworthy phone conversations around the time the Red Sox signed free agent Carl Crawford to his landmark seven-year, $142 million deal. — The first was initiated by Red Sox GM Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
St. Petersburg Times:
Sheffield “99.9-percent” sure he's going to retire — It appears that Tampa native Gary Sheffield's career is coming to a close. — Sheffield told ESPN 1040 in Tampa this afternoon that he's “99.9-percent” sure he's going to retire. Sheffield, who last played in 2009 with the Mets …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Dan Mennella / MLB Rumors:
Brian Bannister Heading To Japan — Free-agent starter Brian Bannister has agreed to a one-year deal (plus a club option) with the Tokyo Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. — Bannister, a five-year veteran of the big leagues, pitched for one season …
Anthony Andro / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Ian Kinsler could return to Texas Rangers' leadoff spot — ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wednesday that new third baseman Adrian Beltre would likely bat cleanup. — The rest of the lineup remains in flux, with the exception of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz sandwiching Beltre.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Time in Arlington
RELATED: