Top News:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets front office considered releasing Michael Pelfrey before Opening Day — Pelfrey follows news with strongest outing on Thursday, allowing one run in 6.1 innings — Michael Pelfrey's future with the Mets may not last past this season, as sources say the team considered cutting the righthander before Opening Day.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, NorthJersey.com, Tedquarters, HardballTalk, Kranepool Society and New Jersey Online
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets keep Mike Baxter and Mike Nickeas on official roster, send Adam Loewen and others down to the minors — Mets defeat Houston, 9-, on same day of cuts — Tim Byrdak may be set for the opener as Mets make cuts with the season in mind. — PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, New Jersey Online, New York Times, ESPN and Bats
Brian Erni / MetsBlog.com:
Final score: Mets 9 Astros 1
Final score: Mets 9 Astros 1
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Amazin' Avenue
Boston Globe:
No recourse in Carpenter case — Injured reliever passed physicals — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher passed both his Cubs physical and Red Sox physical after he was sent to Boston as compensation for Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Aceves, Doubront both sparkle in starts
Aceves, Doubront both sparkle in starts
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cook being viewed as only starter, not reliever
Cook being viewed as only starter, not reliever
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Boston Herald
Josh Norris / Minor Matters:
Get your rosters here — A few players — mostly Charleston guys, for whatever reason — tweeted their assignments last night, but the full lists are out this morning, and here they are: — First, the Thunder, because this is a Thunder blog: — TRENTON — PITCHERS — Cory Arbiso
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Hawpe released by Rangers — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers have given Brad Hawpe his unconditional release in order for him to look for a Major League job elsewhere. They have also invited him back if he can't find one. — “We've talked to some other teams, hopefully there are some opportunities …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers set rotation; Darvish will debut April 9 — Lewis handed Opening Day assignment, followed by two lefties — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Two Japanese baseball icons will go head to head when the Rangers play the Mariners on April 9 at the Ballpark in Arlington.
Discussion:
Postcards From Elysian Fields, Baseball Time in Arlington and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Florida prosecutor drops battery charge against Manny Ramirez — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A Florida prosecutor has dismissed a misdemeanor domestic battery charge against baseball star Manny Ramirez [stats] because his wife won't cooperate in the investigation.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com, MLB and Associated Press
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Dickey wants Mets to pick up option now — PORT ST. LUCIE — R.A. Dickey could be headed toward a more certain future with the Mets. — According to a source, team brass has already begun discussing various possibilities — with no resolution — on which direction to move with Dickey …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Amazin' Avenue
Game theory:
A long Los Angeles nightmare ends — THERE has never been a shortage of examples to illustrate the old adage that life isn't fair. But few can compete with the tale of Frank McCourt, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, now that he has agreed to sell the club for an eye-popping $2.15 billion.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Montero looking for V-Mart deal; no chance to get it with D-Backs — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Improving Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero is said to be looking for a deal similar to Victor Martinez's $52-million, four-year contract, and the chances for him to make a deal with Arizona appear slim under those conditions.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pregame notes: Yankees prepared for all rotation options — Yesterday Joe Girardi spoke in glowing terms about Freddy Garcia, and today he left very open the possibility of optioning either Ivan Nova or Michael Pineda to Triple-A to start the season. — “There's no gaurantee that the sixth starter goes to the bullpen,” Girardi said.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Sanchez shows Marlins shoulder is OK — JUPITER, Fla.—JUPITER, Fla. — Anibal Sanchez put to rest any questions about the Miami Marlins' rotation. — Sanchez allowed a run in five innings, including Carlos Beltran's second homer, and the Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Thursday.
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