Top News:
David Laurila / FanGraphs Baseball:
Rosenheck & Jonas: International Draft Issues — MLB's new Collective Bargaining Agreement seemingly portends an international draft — Bud Selig has called it inevitable — but questions remain. Among them are: “Is it a good idea?” and “Is it even practical?”
Discussion:
Baseball America and baseballmusings.com
John Lott / National Post:
Blue Jays' Dustin McGowan expects quick recovery from foot injury — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Dustin McGowan knows this injury, and he is not worried. — “It's still a little tender, but it's getting better, actually,” the Toronto Blue Jays' right-hander said Monday after undergoing treatment …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and Bluebird Banter
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Michael Pineda Flashes His Fastball — TAMPA, Fla. — With a solid performance Sunday, Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda might have quelled for now some of the near panic over the mysterious loss of three or four miles per hour on his fastball. — Pitching against the Detroit Tigers …
Discussion:
NY Daily News, HardballTalk, Pinstripe Alley, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB.com
RELATED:
Brett / Bleacher Nation:
Dale Sveum is Losing Sleep Over Lineup Construction — There are folks who will tell you that lineup construction doesn't really matter - and they'll offer you advanced stats to prove it. I'm still a bit unsold in either direction (at bottom, I do agree with the idea that you want to bat …
Discussion:
THE BOOK and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Soriano, Mather lead way against Indians
Soriano, Mather lead way against Indians
Discussion:
Major League Bastian and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers, Lucroy Nearing Extension — The Brewers are nearing an extension with catcher Jonathan Lucroy, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report (Twitter link). The deal with the Sports One Athlete Management client would be either four or five years long.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Daily Dish
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Video of the Miami Marlins home run feature has finally surfaced — It ... is ... alive! — With opening day fast approaching and a new ballpark to open, the Miami Marlins have been preparing by putting their highly anticipated and already much-ridiculed home run display through some dry runs.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
Mets sign starter Chris Young to minor-league deal — JUPITER, Fla. - Another survivor of anterior capsule surgery has rejoined the Mets. Chris Young, who started four games last season, agreed to a minor-league deal today. He will fly to New York later this week for a physical, and report to Port St. Lucie afterward.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
Joe Smith / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays say Matt Bush won't remain in organization — PORT CHARLOTTE — Matt Bush is “not going to play for us” again, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Sunday, speaking for the first time about the minor-league pitcher's DUI hit-and-run arrest.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Purple Row and Baseball Nation
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Jon Lester, Mike Adams Join ACES — Red Sox lefty Jon Lester and Rangers reliever Mike Adams have changed agencies, following agent Josh Yates to ACES. Both pitchers had formerly been represented by SFX Baseball. SFX negotiated Lester's then-precedent-setting five-year, $30MM deal three years ago.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Jaso Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers option top prospect Turner to Triple-A — LAKELAND, Fla. — The Tigers optioned top prospect Jacob Turner to Triple-A Toledo on Monday morning as part of a half-dozen roster cuts from camp, whittling their Spring Training roster to 32 players. — Outfielder Quintin Berry …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang likely to start season on DL; Lannan No. 5 — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is expected to start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring. — That means, according to manager Davey Johnson, left-hander John Lannan will be the fifth starter …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Jim Caple / MLB:
The Jamie Moyer 49 — Everything you ever wanted to know about baseball's grand old man — Age Is Just A State Of Mind — Jim Caple sits down with Jamie Moyer who shares his thoughts as he approaches 50 years old — Forty-nine things you should know about Jamie Moyer while rooting …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Marcum on upswing entering key season — Righty throws three innings against Dodgers, with three K's — PHOENIX — So far, so good for right-hander Shaun Marcum, who is playing catchup in a bid to begin the season in the Brewers' starting rotation. — Marcum, slowed this spring by a stiff shoulder, needs no extra motivation.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and HardballTalk
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Valentine addresses reported power struggle with Cherington — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Bobby Valentine was asked Monday about the perception of a rift or power struggle with general manager Ben Cherington. — “I think it's lazy journalism,” Valentine said. “That's what I think.
Discussion:
HardballTalk