Top News:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies ship Slowey to Cleveland, push for 2B — (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press) — Kevin Slowey reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro this week, but never pitched for the Rockies at 5,280 feet. The right-hander was shipped to the Indians today in exchange …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Purple Row, HardballTalk and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Could the Rockies trade for Justin Turner? — Troy Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies had been trying to acquire Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox, but those talks have stalled and . Instead, Renck says, “it's more likely they get someone like Justin Turner than Scutaro now.”
Discussion:
joy of sox and Boston Globe
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Indians Acquire Kevin Slowey
Discussion:
Puckett's Pond, HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays To Sign Carlos Pena — The Rays have agreed to sign Carlos Pena to a one-year deal that will bring the powerful first baseman back to Tampa Bay, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports on Twitter. He'll obtain approximately $7.25MM, Heyman reports. Yahoo's Tim Brown reported earlier …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Pirates Prospects, Call to the Pen, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Associated Press:
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)— The Tampa Bay Rays have added a familiar bat to the middle of their lineup. — A person with knowledge of the agreement tells The Associated Press that slugger Carlos Pena has agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract to return to the team he posted impressive power numbers for four seasons.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays re-sign first baseman Carlos Pena
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Daily Dish
Terence Moore / MLB.com:
Age is just a number for Niekro and Moyer — This column is about Jamie Moyer, but it really is about Phil Niekro, because Niekro is about why seasoned (OK, old) players contribute to the magic of baseball. — And Niekro was old. — You know, if you go by what is considered the norm in professional sports.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Tribe obtains Slowey from Rockies for Putnam — CLEVELAND — The Indians acted swiftly in trying to protect their rotation depth. — On Friday, Cleveland completed a trade with the Rockies, acquiring right-hander Kevin Slowey and cash ($1.25 million) in exchange for Minor League reliever Zach Putnam.
Discussion:
Call to the Pen and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Yu mania makes debut at Rangers Ballpark — Japan's latest superstar import greeted with plenty of fanfare — ARLINGTON — Yu Darvish, in his first news conference at Rangers Ballpark, was able to show some flashes of humor. At one point, he talked about his first visit earlier this month.
Discussion:
Foul Territory, ESPN, Baseball Time in Arlington and SI Tracking Blog
RELATED:
ESPNdeportesLosAngeles com / MLB:
Source: A's interested in Manny Ramirez — ORLANDO — The Oakland Athletics are “very interested” in making Manny Ramirez their designated hitter next season, a source told ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com. — Ramirez — Ramirez, 39, has been working out in Miami since December and has plans …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, SI Tracking Blog and Deadspin
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Mariners getting closer to making Montero for Pineda trade official — The agent for Jesus Montero said the catcher is happy about the trade that will send him to the Mariners. — One week after news leaked of the Mariners' blockbuster trade with the Yankees, the deal still hasn't been officially consummated.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB.com and Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Brewers OF Aoki cashes in on longtime ‘dream’ — TOKYO — Even with a significant cut in salary, Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki is pleased to be a Milwaukee Brewer. — “I'm just happy to get the opportunity to play in the major leagues,” Aoki said at a news conference on Friday.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and JSOnline
RELATED:
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Brewers' payroll pushing $100 million
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Rumors
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Romo, Giants avoid arbitration with deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Sergio Romo avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.575 million deal, the Giants announced on Friday. — Romo's accord left right-hander Tim Lincecum as San Francisco's only unsigned arbitration-eligible player.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Talking some baseball over dinner last night — The 73rd annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner was held at the Westin Copley last night. A large crowd attended and had a chance to hear from assorted award-winners and guests including Ben Cherington, Bobby Valentine, David Ortiz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Lavarnway and Josh Reddick.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers sign Hawpe — The Rangers have signed first baseman-outfielder Brad Hawpe to a Minor League contract. He gives the Rangers some depth at first base in case Mitch Moreland is not ready. — The Rangers have scheduled a Major news conference for Friday night. Wait a minute, that is for Yu Darvish.
Discussion:
Foul Territory, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
