Top News:
MLB:
Source: Braves get Livan Hernandez — The Atlanta Braves have reached agreement on a deal with right-hander Livan Hernandez, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. — The move comes hours after the Houston Astros released baseball's active leader in starts and innings from his minor league contract.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Braves held to RBI double in loss to Astros — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Bud Norris allowed four hits and one run in six strong innings in his final start of the Grapefruit League season and Chris Johnson had a pair of RBIs to lead the split-squad Astros to a 5-1 win over the split-squad Braves on Friday night at Osceola County Stadium.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Phillies grab big lead, can't hold off Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. — Michael Pineda's chances of breaking camp in the Yankees' rotation took a hit on Friday as the young right-hander was chased in the third inning of a 13-9 victory over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
TAMPA — New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda said he felt “a little sore” in the back of his right shoulder during an abbreviated outing Friday night in which he allowed six runs in 2-2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. — As ominous as that sounds, it was unclear if Pineda is injured or …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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:
NorthJersey.com, Tedquarters, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Kranepool Society
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Dickey wants Mets to pick up option now
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and MetsBlog.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Trout sent to Triple-A amidst trying spring — TEMPE, Ariz. — The Angels optioned star prospect Mike Trout — as well as long-shot rotation candidate Brad Mills — to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. — The move offered little in the way of surprise. All it did was signal the end …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
RELATED:
Alex Pavlovic / Boston Herald:
Giants pitcher Barry Zito encouraged to watch Jamie Moyer — SURPRISE, Ariz. - The San Francisco Giants were shut out by Colorado Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer twice this spring, and the clubhouse consensus was that it might be best if the team didn't see Moyer again for a while.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, AZ Snake Pit and baseballmusings.com
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Cabrera returns with two doubles in victory — Tigers rally past Orioles behind Plagman's homer, triple — SARASOTA, Fla. — Tigers reserve outfielder Tony Plagman homered in the seventh to tie the score, then tripled home the go-ahead runs in the ninth to steal the spotlight …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Royals, Alex Gordon Agree To Extension — 6:10pm: The deal is worth $37.5MM over four years with a player option for 2016 at $12.5MM, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Gordon will earn $6MM for 2012, $9MM for 2013, $10MM for 2014, and $12.5MM for 2015, Dutton tweets.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and Royals Review
Jason McIntyre / The Big Lead:
Joe Posnanski is Leaving Sports Illustrated — Less than three years after joining the staff at Sports Illustrated, Joe Posnanski is leaving. Posnanski has told the magazine he's moving on, and his next stop is the USA Today/MLB Advanced Media joint venture that was announced last month.
Discussion:
Deadspin
John Lott / National Post:
Blue Jays' Adam Lind on track to resume playing on Sunday — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Adam Lind is feeling relief, both in his back and his mind. — The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman was scratched from the lineup Tuesday with low back tightness, raising concerns about the back problems that put him on the disabled list last season.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
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
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Ted Lilly to open season on DL — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly will begin the regular season on the 15-day disabled list as a result of neck stiffness that knocked him out of his most recent Cactus League start, manager Don Mattingly said after Friday's split-squad, 9-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Gordon, Loney lead way against Cubs — MESA, Ariz. — Dee Gordon hit a two-run triple and scored on James Loney's single to lift the Dodgers' split squad to a 6-3 victory Friday over Ryan Dempster and the Cubs. — With the game tied, 1-1, the Dodgers had two on and one out in the seventh against Manuel Corpas.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
